New Delhi: With close to 40% of India’s population illiterate, it is impossible for millions to read newspapers or magazines. Likewise, most people who are unable to buy TV sets, cannot be reached through the medium. Thus for the poor and underprivileged, the only available medium of news and entertainment is radio.
As the number of private stations increase, poor listeners are expected to turn away from state broadcaster All India Radio to private FM stations. But can radio serve as something more than a device to entertain the poor and underprivileged? Mint investigates at Ficci Frames, Asia’s largest conference on the business of entertainment.