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Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

LESSON 06

CURTAIN RAISER

Before we discuss the programming side of any broadcast transmission, it is appropriate here

to throw some light on a topic which rarely gets into limelight. The curtain raiser is a word

heard more in the studio than outside. The curtain raiser is a full program in itself which

actually is a forerunner before a major program. For instance; a very important OIC

conference is going to be held, lets suppose in Pakistan. A day before, or even earlier, special

programs will be aired to make people familiarize with the issues the conference is going to

discuss. This program is called curtain raiser.

We shall now have a detailed study of different types of curtain raisers.

Political

Usually it is the area of politics and governance that hold major meetings and conferences.

From the first session of the parliament to holding of general elections, and from discussing

the role of district governments to the performance of different governments and private

departments and corporations, there is no dearth of big events. Many of these events need an

introductory program on the electronic media so that people know well in time the topics and

their importance.

Apart from the national politics, so much activity is noticed in the regional and global politics.

Some time such activities are related to different regional issues. Every now and then there

are meetings and conferences at different diplomatic levels which talk about the matters

concerning millions of people of the region. There may be a case that your country is not

involved directly but it has some stakes indirectly. For example there is an OIC meeting which

has on its agenda the issue of Palestine. Since this issue finds a high place in our foreign

policy, there is much concern here to learn how other OIC members are going to talk on this

matter.

Likewise, a SAARC meeting is to discuss some issues belonging to India and Bangladesh.

since Pakistan is a very important member of the SAARC, it would like to know the progress

made on certain matters between the two regional countries.

A curtain raiser would place listeners in a position where they would be able to understand all

these issues in proper perspective.

Financial

Daily life is full of economic events concerning with common people. Like the annual federal

budgets, which carry so much for public in the sense of taxes, prices and increase or decrease

in the rail fares and utility bills. Usually common people have little understanding of economic

issues. A well-produced curtain raiser is a blessing for them for it makes them get some know-

how on matters concerning them.

These days people are more concerned about the economic policies and developments of

different countries with whom direct or indirect business is going on. Any change in the import

policy of a country where Pakistani exporters are selling goods would have far reaching

consequences on the bilateral trade. Traders would like to understand the background

reasons for change in the financial policies of other countries as well as in their own country.

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Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

Sometime, organizations like the WTO take certain decisions which are binding to all the

member states to follow. In most cases ordinary businesspersons do not know much of the

details of these decisions which by all means are likely to matter in their business.

A curtain raiser will come handy just before a meeting in any part of the world which in any

ways is going to affect the business interest of the people here.

Sports

The events of national interest, which perhaps continue all round the year, belong to sports.

Either Pakistan is visiting a country to play a test series, or a country is coming here for the

same purpose. A world cup tournament is going to be held this week, or Olympic games are

next month. National games are also planned for near future, or preparation for SAF games is

in final stages. There is no end to sports festivity. A broadcasting house remains alert the

whole year to make programs - curtain raisers, to cash on the immense interest these sporting

activities generate.

People are generally interested in knowing the records of the teams and athletes of their liking.

A background of games and the future prospects told to the sports lover through an

arrangement of curtain raiser is always going to general interest among them.

It is quite possible to hold an interview of an important person captain of the visiting team,

coach or the manager, to ask questions of immediate interest pertaining to the forthcoming

series of test matches. A curtain raiser is meant to cover all possible aspect of the event and

take the listeners in a position where they would be enjoying the matches with more

knowledge of the game and the players.

Academics

Think some world top ranking scientists are here to discuss, say developments in the area of

molecular biology in a conference of interest-group countries. This gives an ideal time to a

broadcasting station to prepare a curtain raiser and involve one or two scientists in the

discussions on the agenda-of-topics for the conference.

There have been many developments in the field of education as foreign universities are

seeking students from this part of the world. Usually officials of the foreign universities hold

camps at big cities and conduct interviews of students and parents who are interested in

learning from abroad. A radio program as curtain raiser before such activity may make people

aware of so many things and equip them to move further from that level of knowledge.

Again, there are a number of stray events, which may require a curtain raiser. If the Gawadar

port is going to be inaugurated next week, no broadcasting house will miss to air a forerunner

before that date. If Prime Minister of some country is visiting Pakistan, say for the first time, a

curtain raiser is a must to introduce people here with the agenda of talks he may be holding

with our leaders and so on.