Radio broadcasting began in India in
the early 1920’s. The Radio Club of
Bombay broadcast the first programme in 1923.
This was followed by the setting up of a Broadcasting Service that began
broadcasting on 23rd July 1927 on an experimental basis in Bombay
and Calcutta, under an agreement between the then Government of India and a
private company called the Indian Broadcasting Company Ltd. When this company went into liquidation in
1930, Indian State Broadcasting Service under the Department of “Controller of
Broadcasts” was constituted. The Indian State Broadcasting Service was renamed
as All India Radio in June, 1936. All India Radio also came to be known as
Akashvani in 1956.
When India attained Independence in
1947, AIR had a network of six stations and 18 transmitters. The coverage was 2.5 % of the area and just
11% of the population. AIR today has
231 radio stations and 373 transmitters and its coverage extends to 91.79
% by area and 99.14 % by population. Operating in a multi-cultural,
multi-linguistic country like India, AIR broadcasts in 24 languages and 146
dialects, in its home service. In
External Services, it covers 27 languages including 16 foreign and 11 Indian
languages. AIR operates its broadcasting services on Medium Wave, Short Wave
and FM. The FM Service uses a larger
bandwidth to provide a programme service of high fidelity and lower noise
distortion. AIR started the FM network with its channels viz. AIR FM Gold,
and AIR FM Rainbow,
Objective
In its
programming and other activities AIR is guided by its motto “Bahujana
Hitaya; Bahujana Sukhaya” i.e to promote the happiness and welfare of the
masses through information, education and entertainment. To realize its objectives, AIR has evolved a
three-tier system of broadcasting – national, regional and local. It caters to the mass communication needs of
the people through its various stations spread across the country. They provide music, spoken word, news and
other programmes. Local stations meet
the area specific needs of the listener.
At present All India Radio operates
its services through:
Primary Channels
Commercial Broadcasting Service (Vividh
Bharati)
FM Channels (Rainbow and Gold)
Local Radio Station (LRS)
National Channel
DTH
External Services broadcast
Other niche channels: Amrutha Varshini
Emergency Warning Broadcasting System (EWBS)
Broadcasting is a very effective
medium for relaying life-saving information on the preventive measures to be
taken and also about the rescue measures envisaged after the disaster has
happened. Japan has developed a technique in which a sleeping
radio set can be switched on automatically in case of emergency. All India radio
has already tested the technique in MW/FM transmitters. Further work is proposed in coordination with
National Disaster Management Authority.
With the passage of time operating
broadcasting services on Medium Wave and Short Wave, AIR has had stepped into
the larger bandwidth to provide a programme service of high fidelity and lower
noise distortion and thus came the era of FM.
Expansion Of FM Through Private Participation
With the advent of liberalization in
India. Government of India brought out a policy to expand FM Radio Network through participation
of private agencies in 1999 and again a revised policy in 2005. Accordingly,
21 channels were operationalised in various states in Phase- I and 236 channels
have been operationalised in Phase-
II, out of the 266 channels for which licenses have been given. Government
has received a sum of Rs.35.53 crores (approx.) license fee from these channels
during 2007- 08.
Community Radio Setup in
India
After the success of the FM Radio
Broadcasting, the Government of India approved a policy for the grant of
licenses for setting up of Community Radio Stations to well established
educational institutions including IITs/IIMs, Krishi Vikas Kendras, State
Agricultural universities, Indian Council of Agricultural Research
institutions and ‘Non-profit’ organizations like civil society
and voluntary organizations.
The basic objective of the Community
Radio broadcasting is to serve the
cause of the community in the service area
by involving members of the community in the broadcast of their programmes.
These small Radio Stations set up by educational institutions, civil society
organizations etc., would cater to the needs of the population in a range
of 10-15 km
and would have programmes of immediate relevance to the community. The emphasis
should be on developmental, agricultural, health, educational, environmental,
social welfare, community development and cultural programmes. The programming
should reflect the special interests and needs of the local community and
at least 50% of content shall be generated with the participation of the local
community, for which the station has been set up.
Challenge to AIR -
Technological Advancements
With the
advent of private channels in FM Radio, the Public Broadcaster’s monopoly has
been threatened. To compete with the upcoming channels the AIR also has been
adopting new technologies and techniques to continue to reach out to the
masses. AIR has added another feather to its cap by making available the ‘SMS
News on Mobile Phone’ service. Anyone can now get news through SMS by sending a
SMS – NEWS at 5676744.
The ‘News
on Phone’ service is another landmark being presented by AIR. Anyone can get
the latest news by simply making a phone call on the designated numbers and
listen to national / international news or regional news in English, Hindi and
local language. The service is now operational in 14 cities across the country
including Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patna, Jaipur, Ahmedabad,
Bangalore and Thiruvananthpuram.
Utilizing the technological
advancements, AIR has also launched its website for the news lovers. AIR News
can be accessed through NSD website www.newsonair.com.
Introduction of Internet
broadcasting by AIR has enabled its listeners in parts of the world like USA,
Canada, West and South Africa to avail of AIR’s Services on Internet 24 hrs. 21
AIR channels are also available through Doordarshan DTH services.
The External Services Division has
started digital transmission from its new set up installed in the New
Broadcasting House. All modern gadgets and equipments are being used to attract
as many listeners as possible.
Computer
Hard Disc based recording, editing and playback system has already been
provided at 76 AIR stations and is under implementation at 61 stations. Provision
of Hard Disc Based System at 48 major stations of All India Radio is also
currently in progress.
Computerization
of AIR stations and offices is in progress to facilitate online exchange of
information and improvement of efficiency.
Permanent Studios with digital
equipment & Compterised hard disc based work stations for recording,
dubbing, editing & playback facilities etc. are being provided at AIR Leh,
Dehradun, Mysore, Jaipur, & Tawang.
AIR has started “AIR
RESOURCES” as one of its commercial arm to provide consultancy and
turnkey solutions in the field of broadcasting. Its present activities include
the following:
It is providing turnkey solutions to
IGNOU in setting up FM Transmitters for their Gyan-Vani stations at 40 places
in the country. Infrastructure like land, building and tower has also been
leased out to Gyan-Vani stations. 26
Gyan-Vani stations are already operational. Operation & maintenance of all
the Gyan-Vani stations commissioned so far has also been undertaken.
All India Radio, with its reach to
nearly the whole of population, continues in its effort to spread awareness
among the people about the initiatives taken by the Government to improve the
standard of living of the common man. From its post Independence stature as channel
associated only with classical music it has graduated into a
educational-cum-entertainment channel and is once again looking forward to gain
the ground it had lost to the private operators in the recent past.
(Release ID :41317)