Punjabi University set to launch 24×7 DTH education TV channel

Globally known for its research on Sikhism, Punjabi language and culture, the Punjabi University here is all set to achieve a new landmark by launching its own 24×7 direct-to-home (DTH) TV channel. Centre for Advanced Media Studies (CAMS) of the university would run its own multilingual “edutainment” DTH channel, which will operate 24×7 like any other TV channel and is expected to be on-air in a couple of weeks. Besides providing a platform to impart distance education to graduate and post-graduate students in four major subjects, the channel would be used to globally telecast educational video programmes based on a range of issues and socio-cultural practices pertaining to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UT of Chandigarh. Programmes of various genres, including short films, documentaries, symposiums and even special lectures would be produced in the three studios of CAMS, which are dedicated for the channel. “The decision was taken after the Union ministry of human resource development and public broadcaster Prasar Bharti signed a memorandum of understanding to install DTH channels at various media centres, wherein the Prasar Bharti would provide umbrella to MHRD’s flagship programme and provide network to telecast educational videos and e-contents for university students,” said Grumeet Mann, director, CAMS, adding that the entire production and recurring cost of the channel would be borne by MHRD. “The decision was taken at a meeting of the coordination committee of media centres, recently held at Calicut under the aegis of Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), which is an inter-university centre of UGC-MHRD, engaged in spreading higher education through various organs of electronic media. We are hopeful that the channel would be on-air by March 31,” said Mann. He said the centre would also produce e-content programme (based on UGC prescribed syllabus for UG and PG students) to cater to students of population studies, computer science, performing arts and physical education. The major objective of setting up the DTH channel, Prof Maan said, was to reach out to the global audience of students in general and the Indian community of students in particular, especially those who can’t afford to draw the benefit of regular classroom teaching or even through the traditional distance education system. Source: Education News