The Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information & Broadcasting, Arun Jaitley has said the growth of technology across the broadcasting space had drastically altered the pattern and method of information dissemination. The spurt in technological change had also been brought by innovations across the media landscape influencing content, audience tastes and tools of dissemination. Change was evident across media platforms in the form and content of dissemination. The Minister stated this while inaugurating 21st International Conference and Exhibition on Terrestrial and Satellite Broadcasting, BES Expo 2015 here today on the theme ‘Social Media and Broadcasting: New Opportunities’.
Speaking further, the Minister said the varied and prolific use of applications for packaging of content in the broadcasting sector had also impacted the access of communication to the people. Driven by technology and innovation, choices available to the audience had been altered. The definition of news had also undergone change in view of the impact of technology and its pattern of consumption. The Minister further stated that the radio sector was currently witnessing a revival with the FM channels leading the comeback with enhanced quality and competition. Complimenting the quality of AIR broadcasting, Shri Jaitley said that it was one of the high points of Prasar Bharati as a public broadcaster.
Elaborating further, Shri Jaitley stated that social media as a medium of communication empowered the average citizens by making their voice accessible to different media platforms. As a platform, Social media not only offered more choice to audiences but acted as a stimulus for technological evolution, calling upon broadcasting organizations to upscale their skills and capacities. The Minister also mentioned that even in a competitive environment, broadcasting organizations ought to follow realistic financial models in order to avoid aberrations and imperfections. Later the Minister also inaugurated the exhibition on Terrestrial and Satellite Broadcasting. The highlight of the function was the award ceremony for which the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore gave away awards to winners belonging to different segments in the broadcasting sector. Secretary (I&B), Shri Bimal Julka and Chairman, Prasar Bharati, Dr. A. Surya Prakash were also present on the occasion.