Radio broadcasting in India – a service to the community

Smt. Sushma Singh*
*Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting


Radio broadcasting began in India in the early 1920’s. The Radio Club of Bombay broadcast thefirst programme in 1923. This was followed by the setting up of a Broadcasting Service thatbegan broadcasting on 23rd July 1927 on an experimental basis in Bombay and Calcutta, underan agreement between the then Government of India and a private company called the IndianBroadcasting Company Ltd. When this company went into liquidation in 1930, Indian StateBroadcasting Service under the Department of “Controller of Broadcasts” was constituted. TheIndian 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 24languages and 146 dialects, in its home service. In External Services, it covers 27 languagesincluding 16 foreign and 11 Indian languages. AIR operates its broadcasting services on MediumWave, Short Wave and FM. The FM Service uses a larger bandwidth to provide a programmeservice 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 ofbroadcasting – national, regional and local. It caters to the mass communication needs of thepeople 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 preventivemeasures to be taken and also about the rescue measures envisaged after the disaster hashappened. Japan has developed a technique in which a sleeping radio set can be switched onautomatically in case of emergency. All India radio has already tested the technique inMW/FM transmitters. Further work is proposed in coordination with National DisasterManagement Authority.
With the passage of time operating broadcasting services on Medium Wave and Short Wave, AIRhas had stepped into the larger bandwidth to provide a programme service of high fidelity andlower 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 FMRadio Network through participation of private agencies in 1999 and again a revised policy in2005. Accordingly, 21 channels were operationalised in various states in Phase- I and 236channels have been operationalised in Phase- II, out of the 266 channels for which licenses havebeen 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 forthe grant of licenses for setting up of Community Radio Stations to well established educationalinstitutions including IITs/IIMs, Krishi Vikas Kendras, State Agricultural universities, Indian Council
of Agricultural Research institutions and ‘Non-profit’ organizations like civil society and voluntaryorganizations.

The basic objective of the Community Radio broadcasting is to serve the cause of thecommunity in the service area by involving members of the community in the broadcast of theirprogrammes. These small Radio Stations set up by educational institutions, civil societyorganizations etc., would cater to the needs of the population in a range of 10-15 km and wouldhave programmes of immediate relevance to the community. The emphasis should be ondevelopmental, agricultural, health, educational, environmental, social welfare, communitydevelopment and cultural programmes. The programming should reflect the special interests andneeds 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 hasbeen threatened. To compete with the upcoming channels the AIR also has been adopting newtechnologies and techniques to continue to reach out to the masses. AIR has added anotherfeather to its cap by making available the ‘SMS News on Mobile Phone’ service. Anyone can nowget news through SMS by sending a SMS – NEWS at 5676744.
The ‘News on Phone’ service is another landmark being presented by AIR. Anyone canget the latest news by simply making a phone call on the designated numbers and listen tonational / international news or regional news in English, Hindi and local language. The service isnow 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 likeUSA, Canada, West and South Africa to avail of AIR’s Services on Internet 24 hrs. 21 AIRchannels are also available through Doordarshan DTH services.
The External Services Division has started digital transmission from its new set up installed in theNew Broadcasting House. All modern gadgets and equipments are being used to attract as manylisteners as possible. Computer Hard Disc based recording, editing and playback system has already beenprovided at 76 AIR stations and is under implementation at 61 stations. Provision of Hard DiscBased 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 ofinformation and improvement of efficiency.
Permanent Studios with digital equipment & Compterised hard disc based work stations forrecording, 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 andturnkey 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-Vanistations at 40 places in the country. Infrastructure like land, building and tower has also beenleased 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 tospread awareness among the people about the initiatives taken by the Government to improve thestandard of living of the common man. From its post Independence stature as channel associatednly with classical music it has graduated into a educational-cum-entertainment channel and isonce again looking forward to gain the ground it had lost to the private operators in the recent
past.