FM Stations dip during the tumultuous period in Kashmir

Waheed Yaseen

Agence India Press

November 25, 2010

Srinagar: Unrest in Kashmir has had a telling effect on almost all business sectors incurring massive losses in last five months or so. It hasn’t spared Frequency Modulation (FM) radio stations in the valley either.

 

FM stations have suffered huge losses as advertisement –a major source of revenue -from the business establishments showed a considerable dip during the tumultuous period.

 

“No sooner unrest began in the valley, people decided not to advertise their products, companies or other things. Financially, it hit us badly as advertisements are the major source of revenue for the FM station particularly private ones,” one of the employees told Agence India Press, who wished not to be named, in valley’s first and only private FM station, Big 92.7.

 

It was but natural for companies, he said, to shy away from going for advertisement in print or electronic media as there was hardly any business during these months.

 

Big 92.7 FM and other public sector found a profitable niche in the valley soon after their launch with business world pouring in with the advertisement with popularity of the stations in the mind.

 

Not only number of listeners increased by every passing day, it also tapped the advertisement market by luring majority of the fraternity to it.

But unrest played the spoilsport.

 

“This is for fm stations sure advertisements didn’t come our way but number of listeners increased as people had hardly any means of entertainment during the period,” he said.

 

Normal proceedings in Kashmir got punctured after a killing of a 17 year old boy, Tufail Ahmed  Matoo of old city, by a police tear gas shell when he was on his way home after attending tuitions on June 11 this year.

 

Killing led to valley wide protests and shutdowns spearheaded by Syed Ali Shah Geelani led Hurriyat (G) by coming up with its “Quit Kashmir’ campaign as  Authorities, on its part, came down hardly on protesters by imposing curfews during major part of this period.

The events have led to the 111 civilian killings thus far allegedly by police and paramilitary forces.

 

With situation limping back to normalcy, FM radio stations are hoping that it will bring advertisers back.

 

“For last 15 days or so people have again started to make their way to our station for advertisements, we are hopeful that we will be back to the same scenario that was before the start of the turmoil,” he said.

 

As situation is showing signs of normalcy by every passing day, FM station in the valley would hope for a same frequency in terms of revenue they make from Ad world during the normal circumstances. (AIP)

 

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