Media in Mizoram: Present condition

According to the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, the first printing press was established in the year 1911 by the pioneer missionary, Dr. Fraser and the first offset press was commenced in 1979. It is interesting to note that for a small size of 1,091,014 population (2011 Census)  in Mizoram, there are as many as 88 dailies (local English and Mizo medium) with a combined circulation of 79,580 copies. The advent of satellite and cable TV, together with introduction of more sophisticated printing technology and computers have, in a way transformed media in Mizoram. Their impact is clearly visible on newspapers viz. dailies and non-dailies in terms of contents and appearance.

With competition on the rise, the principle of 'survival of the fittest' trend has seemed to set in particularly, in the capital city of Mizoram. The State government has given press accreditation to 77 journalists including press-photographers and TV cameramen. An interesting development, however, is the increase of news magazines of late. The national newspapers such as The Hindu, Telegraph, Times of India, The Statesman have been in circulation throughout Mizoram.

Mizoram being a remote corner of North East India, the national newspapers reach the readers there from Kolkata and Guwahati by air on the next day. Specialised magazines of sports, music, fashion, education, business etc. are in great demand especially, in Aizawl and Lunglei. It is observed that about 35 such magazines are available in the newsstands in Aizawl and Lunglei. Some of the lifestyle product magazines such as Digit, Chip, Computer World, My Mobile, Autocar and so on focusing on niche markets can also be found in newsstands. Women magazines such as Marie Claire, Gladrags, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Femina are catching up the attention of the Mizo ladies. Gossip magazines like Hi!, People etc have gained serious buyers among the younger generation. There has been rapid progress in the penetration of electronic media, namely, radio and TV in Mizoram. This is largely due to growing media awareness and access by the general public. Radio seems to continue as a popular media vehicle in the rural Mizoram. All India Radio (AIR) started its station in Aizawl as an auxiliary station in May 1966 with the frequency of 150 watt medium wave. Two community radio stations are to be opened in Saiha and Champhai towns to cover interior Mizoram.

Doordarshan (a TV channel owned by Government of India) relayed the Asian Games in 1982 from its first VLP transmitter installed in Aizawl. HPT telecast commenced in 1995 and LTP telecast on June 12th 1995. Another HPT Relay Centre was opened at Lunglei in 1995 and two VLPT centres were opened in Saiha and Champhai. Of these, only Aizawl centre has recently increased their telecast of local programme from one hour to two hours.

Besides Doorsdarshan's local programmes, people turned to cable TV channels for entertainment and news. About 29 cable operators are operating in the urban and semi-urban areas in Mizoram. Sky Link was the first firm to telecast Star TV programmes to a limited number of subscribers since 1991.

LPS and ZONET, the local media firms, started their own production centres in 1992 and 1994, respectively. The local programmes have been instrumental in giving information and entertainment in Mizo language. LPS programmes have generated subscribers in most of the district headquarters. It is observed that such local programmes have proved very effective in forming public opinion and they have great potential for educating the masses on issues of topical importance.

The Internet was pioneered by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a public sector telecommunication firm, in Mizoram in the year 1998. However, BSNL started giving out commercial subscriptions since the beginning of 1999 as dial-up connection via phone lines. Since then, BSNL has started offering schemes like post-paid and pre-paid internet connectivity. At present, broadband services are being offered by BSNL in every district headquarters.

Tata Indicom, a private player, which started offering fast wireless internet broadband in  2008 will  stop its services  in Mizoram after January 18, 2013 because the license of this telecom circle was one among the 122 licenses cancelled by the Honourable Supreme in a major judgement in 2012. Though there will be no problem as such  for the existing customers of Tata Indicom as they can switch to other Telecom operators by using MNP(Mobile Number Portability) facility provided to them by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India).

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