MUMBAI: The Asia-Pacific Broadcast Union (ABU), with support from the International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM), conducted a training course on radio transmitters at the AIR Staff Training Institute (Technical) in New Delhi from 21 February to 4 March 2005.

Course highlights included sessions on AM, FM and digital broadcasting techniques; participants were exposed to the various systems and hardware pertaining to radio transmitters and delved into topics on digital radio broadcast.

ABU head of Studio Technology & Training Rukmin Wijemanne said, "The training course is the result of a unique partnership between Prasar Bharati, the IABM and the ABU. The trainees will benefit immensely from these well prepared courses."

"All India Radio (Pasar Bharati) is happy to be able to contribute to the development of the technical skills of broadcast engineers in the Asia-Pacific region under this partnership. We hope that such partnerships will continue in the future for similar developmental missions in the Asia-Pacific region," said All India Radio engineer-in-chief K. M. Paul.

In addition, the ABU-IABM Training Course on TV Studio Equipment will be held on 7 March -18 March 2005, also in New Delhi and at the same venue. The course will provide engineers with an insight into the functioning of TV studio equipment, video production and post-production practices, and the move from analogue to digital. A visit to Doordarshan's TV Studios for course participants will also be arranged.

Introduced at IBC 2001, the IABM Tom McGann bursary provides financial assistance totalling up to £20,000 (USD 38,160), administered through responsible and recognised organisations, to groups of young engineers who would otherwise be unable to benefit from such formal training. The bursary recognises a life-long and significant contribution made to the international broadcasting community by Tom McGann, a former chairman of the IABM, and reflects the IABM's ongoing commitment to assisting in the future of broadcasting.

Both ABU courses are funded by the Tom McGann Bursary Award scheme - providing the allowance for some 33 trainees from ABU member organisations. The IABM previously awarded this bursary to the ABU in 2002 which was used to train 6 engineers at the USTTI, DW Radio and TV Training Centres, informs an official release.

"The IABM established the annual Tom McGann Bursary, with the primary purpose of promoting and assisting with the provision of engineering training within the broadcasting industry. It's very important that we provide opportunities to students who may not otherwise be able to gain access to this type of training," commented IABM chairman Martin Salter. "By granting the Tom McGann Bursary to a well respected and established broadcasting organisation such as the ABU, we can reach young engineers all over the world, widening the talent pool for manufacturers' looking to employ the next generation of broadcasting engineers."