Nepal

Radio Sagarmatha FM 102.4 MHz: 

A presentation on community radio & new technologies Radio Sagarmatha FM 102.4 MHz The Sound of the Kathmandu Valley…

A. Background: 

The establishment of Radio Sagarmatha (RS) is interwoven with the gradual loosening of government control over electronic media: In the early 1990s, Nepal HMG introduces a new constitution and relatively liberal policies and rules and regulations for broadcasting A. Background

A. Background: 

After a long lobby with government and other state machinery to get a license, Radio Sagarmatha (RS) finally goes on air in May 1997 RS is the first independent license in Nepal A. Background

Our Mandate: 

Coverage and discussion of public issues A training outlet for public radio journalism Providing a venue for local ideas and culture Our Mandate

After four years on the air…: 

Broadcast is fourteen hours daily, eighteen hours on Saturdays Thirteen daily news bulletins on current affairs, sports and community activities Regular staff of thirty people and a family of over fifty freelance contributors who together carry out all the programming and technical production After four years on the air…

What makes up our programme...: 

Morning and evening news magazines Folk and contemporary music shows Programming in Newari & Tamang languages (with others in the pipeline) Special programming for youth, women, children and rural listeners Regular focus on good governance, environment, gender, economics and IT What makes up our programme...

B. Our move towards technology integration and the digital age:: 

Our website Our IT orientation The internet radio programme B. Our move towards technology integration and the digital age:

sagarmatha.org.np / radiosagarmatha.org: 

sagarmatha.org.np / radiosagarmatha.org Our website…

IT human resources in 1999:: 

IT human resources in 1999: Station using borrowed email address; dependent on post for correspondence In mid-1998 RS staff member receives the first international training in digital technology & new media In mid-1999, after international training, two producers using digital editing By the end of 1999 two producers were able to use internet, email and handle the station’s website

IT human resources in 2000/1:: 

In June 2000 two sports and news bulletins using internet as primary source are on the air daily By January 2001, 25 staff producers, co-producers and presenters (including 7 women) are using internet daily for research 16 staff including 4 women are using digital editing facility in daily production 12 more have general knowledge about IT and the existing digital facilities at RS IT human resources in 2000/1:

Hardware: 1997-1999: 

In May 1997, the station has one Mac computer used mostly for word processing In 1998, three used Macs arrive from UNESCO also for general administrative use In February 1999, RS signs a barter agreement with local ISP for internet and email access/service By mid-1999, the station gets one Mac G3 and starts its first digital production using ProTools Hardware: 1997-1999

Slide13: 

Hardware: Starting in 2001… 5 computers with full internet facility 5 digital audio workstations with multitrack digital recording, mixing & editing facility CD-writing for CD-to-CD and cassette-to-CD audio dubbing Digital recording and archive of all on air broadcasts Digital music archive/library

Slide14: 

Old recordings on LP and cassette, scratched CDs as well as voice & telephone recordings are enhanced using digital audio Recordings use the latest audio technologies like <MP3> and <wma> Thirty minutes of the station’s programming is available online Hardware: 2001…

Immediate technical plans:: 

Lease line for reliable internet connection High speed internal network to include production/broadcast studios, digital audio workstations, digital music archive/library and internet connectivity Immediate technical plans:

New website including:: 

Online programme bank with 10-12 hours of programming: daily news, weekly programmes and monthly features Live web streaming: daily 18 hours Greater user interactivity News online Links to online community radio database New website including:

The internet show: 

suchana prabidhi dot com The internet show

Slide18: 

 Information Technology Radio Programme on Radio Sagarmatha FM 102.4 suchana prabidhi dot com

Slide19: 

Programme duration: 25 Minutes Broadcast started: 6th December, 2000 Number of broadcast: 7th Episode broadcast on 17th January Programme frequency: Weekly Programme time: 7:35 PM every Wednesday Programme producer: Gaurab Raj Upadhaya gaurab@lahai.com Supported by: Computer Association of Nepal www.can.org.np suchana prabidhi dot com

Slide20: 

00:00 – 05:00 Local and International IT related news 05:00 – 08:00 IT Glossary or "Sabdartha” 08:00 – 15:00 Browsing the web through the radio. 15:00 – 24:00 Talk with IT person Programme structure The programme follows an open format, which means if something is useful or interesting it supercedes the standard format. Otherwise the following format is followed.

What next ?: 

Internet broadcast and archive Live phone-in from listeners to request information from internet Discussion on effective use of IT What next ? Equipment As soon as the infrastructure is in place, we will start new elements What are we waiting for ?

What we envision for the future:: 

Complete digital production for RS Network for community radios in Nepsl MCTs in three locations linked to RS What we envision for the future:

Complete digital production:: 

Digital audio production: Increased sound quality and efficiency Can be easily integrated with internet Makes use of internal networking: digital music archive Makes use of external networks: sharing with other radios Complete digital production: We want to completely computerize our production and broadcast...

Networking radios: 

A network will make all the station links in the chain stronger Link radios via internet Share radio programming between stations Create online programme bank of Nepali language radio Networking radios Build a nation-wide network of community radio station

MCT in three locations:: 

Three telecenters in the Kathmandu Valley linked to Radio Sagarmatha Three different models: urban, semi-urban and rural Provide public access to internet Create a link to RS and the internet radio show Generate new online content in Nepali MCT in three locations:

Questions ??: 

Ian Pringle Gaurab Raj Upadhaya Madhu Acharya Pawan Prakash Upreti Questions ?? Thank You