MUMBAI: Over two months have passed since one of the only two operating community radio stations in Mumbai shut down temporarily, owing to relocation due to financial losses. The Mumbai based Community Radio 90.8 FM Jago Mumbai is still struggling to establish itself, even as the losses remain irrevocable.
Launched on 1 May 2010, the station was a project of the Union Park Residents Association in Bandra. It started off with a bang, showcasing local issues of social relevance and promoting home-grown talent with a mix of music catering to every segment.
But as the years passed by, the momentum built by the station gradually decreased and it began posting losses, claims a station official. While a large share of it was attributed to the lack of government help, the station too did not manage to sustain itself on its own accord.
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Ultimately, it had to go off-air to relocate to a new area after the Union Park building management decided to cut short the lease period to just 12 months. The team is currently scouting for a new location within the same area (Khar to Bandra), but has not been successful due to the high rentals which the project cannot afford.
Speaking with Radioandmusic.com, Jago Mumbai station head creative & programming Nitin Makasare said, “There have been no developments yet, the search is still on. It is very costly to get a place in Bandra and we are still looking out. Since we do not have that kind of money, the process of negotiations is on and we are hoping to finalize something soon.”
Until the station comes back on-air, their programming is being broadcast through an internet radio keeping their hopes alive. But inspite of that, the station has had a deep negative impact, which may affect it after it re-launches on-air.
Makasare pins the blame on the government who did not help them in anyway over the past few months.
“Yes it is a big loss for us. How can we survive when there is no financial help at all from the government. The big truth is that no community radio station is making profits today, and there are plenty of such stations across the country facing such issues,” he highlighted.
Community Radio Association VP NA Shah Ansari said, “The government is in process to develop the CR fund but still there are many community radio stations that are struggling with different issues. So, the government should be more active and the funds should be released soon. Jago Mumbai was a noted station so the government should do something to help them. I personally will write to them and see how we can help. But they have still not approached us for any help.”
Earlier, Ansari had stated, “Although financial sustainability is the major burning issue for most of the CRs who are established by community based organizations, but for Jago Mumbai the situation is different. No doubt it’s a lesion for CR aspirant organizations, MIB and functional CRs to check their growth and more preparing themselves for any such unforeseen situations in the future. As far as I know, the MIB has taken such an issue seriously and are working towards it.”
While the government has been at fault by not providing substantial financial relief or DAVP ads as promised, sources from the Community Radio Association also told us that Jago Mumbai too has been largely at fault.
Sources state that the radio station has managed to make enough profits in its two operational years, but it has been the lack of planning on their part that led to this situation.
With both the parties pinning blames on each other and the government becoming the scapegoat in between, the future of CR in Mumbai is on hold. Although, Jago Mumbai is trying hard to re-launch itself, the future looks bleak and is dependent on their recovery strategies once it goes on-air.
