Radio,An Audio Medium.

Radio, enjoys some extra advantatges over other medium of mass communication. Primarily, radio never engages or obliges any listener to remain away from its job or work while such listener intends or prefers to enjoy any radio programme going on. A farmer can perform anytime its agricultural work by keeping the transistor at the corner of the ground or any house wife can perform also her domestic works easily without any interruption, while attending any radio programme at least. Radio communication can transcend any geogreaphic barrier because its signals are not interrupted by any means or way except few unnatural cases happen so On the other hand, radio is a cheapest medium among all other medium of mass communication, and is affordable also to general populations of the country. Its recurring expanses is very low as compared to others medium After one time purchase of a radio set, there is no significant expenditure except two or three batteries per month. Radio provides an extensive range of programmes of interest and varieies day long to its listeners and can be heard from any place of the country without any blockade or compulsion. Radio caters programme what, is enjoyable universally, irrespective to any age among the listeners.

Radio ; Its Origin And Development In India.

Radio came into operation publicly first in America in the year 1920. From then radio began to expand its existence in Europe significnly. In Britain, the British government went on setting up a public service broadcasting company in the title of BBC in the year 1922, which was constituted as an autonomous and indepently operated concern.Finding the importance of radio service in the society, thus many countries in Europe, went on establishing radio networks rapidly. In India, radio started first in Bombay and then in Calcuta. Both were managed to be operated by private entrepreneurship. In thr year 1930, the government of India,took the control of bothBombay and Calcutta radio station. In the beginning, those radio stations were running in the name of Indian Broadcasting Service (IBS) under the jurisdiction of Post & Telegraph department. In the year 1936, IBS appeared as ‘All India Radio’ (AIR) which was later on undertaken by the ministry of informations & broadcasting after the indepence. AIR again also, was renamed as ‘Akashvani’ in the year 1957 and since then, AIR has widely been known as ‘Akashvani’with the new name given to it.

Enhancement Of ‘AIR’:-

During the period of independence and just after, ‘Air’ started its march on taking with ten stations out of which six sations were in Delhi,Bombay,Madras,Calcuta,Lucknow and Tiruchirapalli, and remaining four stations were functioning at Travancore,Hyderabad, Mysore and Aurangabad which were all the princely states.
After a couple of years, more 25 stattions were included in the ‘AIR’ networks for widening the audience coverage which booted the selling of redio sets. A lot of interests and emphasis, that were generated by the presentation of diversified and qualitative programmes as catered by ‘AIR’ had brought a significant change on the way of its development . In the month of October 57’, commercial channel ‘Vividh Bharati’, was introduced to the networks of ‘AIR’ with a view to provide further entertainment for the interest of the rising audience. The wind of commercialization, was truly blowing on the courtyard of ‘Vividh Bharati’ that grew more confidence and operation and management. ‘Yubavani’ appeared in the month of july 69’,in New Deldi which acquired popularity soon and further centres were built in different citiesas to cater programme in different languages.

AIR today has a big network of 232 broadcasting centres including 149 medium frequency(MW), 54 high frequency (SW) and 171 FM transmitters. AIR’s coverage is 91.79% of the geographic area , serving 99.14% of the people in the largest democracy of the world. AIR covers 24 Languages and 146 dialects in home services. In’ Externel Services’, AIR covers 27 languages; 17 national and 10 foreign languages.


External Service; History & Development.


All India Radio entered the realm of external broadcasting shortly after the outbreak of II world War on 1st October, 1939-when it started a service in Pushtu for listeners across- what was then the country's North West Frontier.The service was designated to counter radio propoganda from Germany, directed to Afghanistan, Iran and Arab countries.With the end of the war, the Victorious and Allies lost interest in continung with the propoganda warfare and the equipment was presented to AIR, which took over its active control.The need of continuing certain services was assessed and the number of services was rearranged.
Today, The External Services Division (ESD) of All India Radio ranks high amongst the External Radio networks of the world, both in reach and range, daily in 55 transmissions with almost 72 hours covering over 100 countries in 27 languages, out of which 16 are foreign and 11 are Indian. The foreign languages are Arabic, Baluchi, Burmese, Chinese, Dari, French, Indonesian, Nepali, Persian, Pushtu, Russian, Sinhala, Swahili, Thai, Tibetan and English (GOS). The Indian languages are Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Seraiki, Sindhi, Tamil, Telegu and Urdu.It has five major services namely, Urdu (12hrs.15 mts.), GOS/English (8hrs. 15 mts), Hindi (5hrs.15 mts), Bengali (6hrs.30mts.), anmd Tamil (5 hrs. 30mts)Urdu service is also available 24x7m DTH
ROLE OF ESD
External Services Division of AIR, has been acting as the window to India for other countries, from where it projects the view point of India, its progress and policies along with its wealthy ‘arts and culture’. With the changingworld, such role has been expanded significantly as to meet the needs and demands of large number of Indian citizens,who are residing in abroad and also foreigners,who are also interested in knowing another growing power, India. Further AIR, has been increasing trade partnership and political importance with a large number of countries across the world. AIR executes in the true sense, the moral responsibility to provide them necessary information, education and entertainment on this varied and multifaceted country, India.
In view of the above, the broadcasting of AIR depend on the relationship both politically & economically between India and other countries concerned.

FM Service
FM service of AIR has two channels � FM Rainbow and FM Gold.� There are 12 FM Rainbow channels and 4 FM Gold Channels.� The programme content of these channels is mainly popular Indian and Western music, compered in a vivacious and contemporary style and therefore highly popular with the urban youth.� News bulletins and current affairs programmes are also broadcast from these channels.� The FM Service is available on the following frequencies:

FM Rainbw.

1. Bangalore 101.3 MHZ
2. Chennai 107.1 MHZ
3. Coimbetore 103.0 MHZ
4. Cuttack 101.3 MHZ
5. Delhi 102.6 MHz
6. Jalandhar 102.7 MHz
7. Kodaikanal 100.5 MHz
8. Kolkata 107.0 MHz
9. Lucknow 100.7 MHz
10. Mumbai 107.1 MHz
11. Panaji 105.4 MHz
12. Tirchirapalli 102.1 MHz

FM Gold.

1. Chennai 105.0 MHz
2. Delhi 106.4 MHz
3. Kolkata 100.2 MHz
4. Mumbai 100.7. MHz


News Service Division:-


All India Radio now under Prasar Bharati has the distinction of being one of the major broadcasting organizations in the world. The News Services Division (NSD) of All India Radio disseminates news and comments to listeners in India and abroad. From 27 news bulletins in 1939-40, AIR today puts more than 510 bulletins daily around 52 hours in 82 languages/dialects in the Home, Regional and External Services.
Out of these, 89 bulletins are broadcast daily from Delhi in the Home Service in English, Hindi and other Indian languages. The 44 Regional News Units (RNUs) putout 355 daily news bulletins in 67 languages. This includes news bulletins mounted exclusively on FM ‘Gold’ channel from 22 AIR Stations.
In addition to the daily news bulletins, the News Services Division also mounts everyday a number of news-based programmes on topical subjects from Delhi and some other Regional News Units.


News Based Programmes In ‘AIR’


In February 1936, talks on current topics were introduced for the first time in English. In September, talks on current topics in Hindustani were added. Later ‘Topics for Today’ and ‘Focus’ on matters of current interest were introduced on 26th October, 1962. The daily ‘Spotlight’ and weekly ‘Current Affairs’ titles were given in place of ‘Topic for Today’ and ‘Focus’ in 1967.
The Current Affairs programme deals with topical issue in which various specialists on the subject express their viewpoints. The half-an-hour programme in English goes on the air from Delhi from 9.30 p.m. on Sundays. The corresponding Hindi programme, “Charcha Ka Vishai Hai” goes on the air from 9.30 p.m. on Wednesdays. ‘Samayiki’ and ‘Spotlight’ are also news-based programmes broadcast daily from Delhi. Commentaries on current topics in Urdu, Kashmiri and Dogri are also put out daily from headquarters, Delhi.
Coverage Of Parliamentry Programmes:-

The daily and weekly reviews of the proceedings in Parliament were introduced on February 14, 1961 in English and Hindi. The daily review called ‘Today in Parliament’ in English and ‘Sansad Sameeksha’ in Hindi has two parts, one on the proceedings in the Lok Sabha and the other on those in the Rajya Sabha. The weekly review in English – ‘This week in Parliament’ and that in Hindi ‘ Is Saptah Sansad Main’ – sums up the important highlights of the proceedings in both Houses during the preceding week.
The broadcast of the daily and ‘Weekly Reviews’ of the proceedings of the State legislatures, when they are in session, were started in 1971-72 in the respective regional languages. A review of the ‘Proceedings of the Delhi Assembly’ was started from December 14, 1993
Radio Newsreels;.
Radio Newsreel was started on December 10, 1955 both in English (Radio Newsreel) and Hindi (Samachar Darshan) from Delhi. Newsreel in English is broadcast on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday while Samachar Darshan is broadcast on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Some Regional News Units also put out regional Newsreels in the respective regional languages.
News In Phone Service;
AIR news on Phone was introduced on February 25, 1998 from Delhi. The service provides the latest news highlights in Hindi and English to a listener anywhere in the world on phone on dialing the specified numbers. Later, the News on Phone’ service in Tamil from Chennai, in Telugu from Hyderabad, in Marathi from Mumbai and in Hindi from Patna were also introduced. This same service has also been started from the Regional News Units at Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Bangalore and Jaipur in 2006 and from Imphal and Lucknow in 2007

NEW FACILITIES
NSD has set up new News Studios with facilities for inclusion of “Phone-in’s” and has arrangement for holding Radio bridge conferences on special occasions.
SOURCE OF NEWS
The bulk of AIR news comes from its own Correspondents spread all over the country. It has 90 regular Correspondents in India and five abroad at Colombo, Dhaka, Dubai, Kathmandu, and Kabul . Apart from this, AIR has around 500 Part-time Correspondents based at nearly all district headquarters. The PTCs are to meet the requirements of Doordarshan News also.
NSD subscribes to the news agencies – UNI, PTI and their corresponding Hindi services – Univarta and Bhasha, and ANI to make its bulletins broad-based. Another source of news are the Monitoring Units (English and Hindi) attached to the General Newsroom and the Central Monitoring Services, which monitor the bulletins of major broadcasting organisations of the world. A Radio News Exchange Programme was initiated with the members of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union to broaden the news coverage. An Information Technology Unit was set up at Delhi to take care of the IT requirements of NSD. The Unit has set up an internal Website to cater to the news requirements of the Regional News Units and others.
SET UP OF NSD
The News Services Division is headed by a Director General (News) (PB) who is one of the senior most officer of the Indian Information Service. He is assisted by a team of Additional Directors General (News), Directors (News) and Joint Directors (News).
The different operational wings of NSD at headquarters in Delhi include: General News Room, Hindi News Room, Reporting Unit, Talks Units (English and Hindi), Newsreel Unit, New Format Cell, Indian Language Units, Monitoring Unit, Reference Unit and Administrative Wing.
The Regional News Units in various States are headed by a Joint Director or a News Editor or an Assistant News Editor assisted by Correspondents, Reporters and Newsreaders-cum-Translators

Vividh Bharati and Commercial Service
The popular Vividh Bharati Service of All India Radio was conceptualized to combat 'Radio Ceylon' in 1957. Within no time it proved to be a popular channel of every household. The service provides entertainment for nearly 15 to 17 hours a day. It presents a mix of film music, skits, short plays and interactive programmes, Some of the old popular programmes of Vividh Bharati are 'SANGEET SARITA', 'BHULE BISRE GEET', 'HAWA MAHAL', 'JAIMALA', 'INSE MILIYE', 'CHHAYA GEET' ETC., are still distinctly recongnised by the listeners. From time to time new programmes were introduced like 'BISCOPE KE BATEIN', 'SARGAM KE SITARE', 'CELLULOID KE SITARE', 'SEHATNAMA', &' HELLO FARMAISH',.
All these programmes are produced centrally at Vividh Bharati Service,Borivili, Mumbai and up-linked to the satellite. 40 Vividh Bharati stations across the country down-linked these programmes through captive earth stations provided at each of these AIR stations. Some local programme windows are also provided at these stations to give regional flavour to the listeners. These 40 Vividh Bharati stations are known as Commercial Broadcasting Service Stations and are located at all major and commercially vibrant cities covering 97% of the Indian population. In 1999 Vividh Bharati Service proved its success connecting Indian Soliders posted on remote border areas to their family members through a special programme entitled "Hello Kargil", through which not only the family members of the soliders , but even a layman including young and old conveyed their best wishes to the soliders to keep up their morale. Eminent actors, play back singers, renowned writers, lyricists, directors and music directors have found way to express their experience and opinion through the Vividh Bharati Platform . A special programme entitled "Ujaale Unki Yaadon Ke" takes the listeners into the world of nostalgia dipping into the memories of the artists of the yester years. With the advent of new technology the transmission of programmes gradually migrated from earlier medium wave transmission to high quality digital stereo FM. Commercials were introduced initially in the Vividh Bharati Service in the year 1967 on an experimental basis. Realising the role of advertising in accelerating the social and material progress of the country, commercials were extended to Primary channels including FM & Local Radio Stations in a phased manner. Advertsing on Radio is not only cost effective to the advertisers but also has the potential to reach far flung areas where no other mass media has succeeded in making any tangible dent.
Some of the popular programmes of Vividh Bharat can also be heard on our National Channel from 2300 hrs. to 0600 hrs. This service now enjoys global listenership through Direct to Home Service (DTH) besides other 11 channels of All India Radio.
AIR had been receiving advertisements through its registered agencies only. With the changing demand of the environment, direct clients are also entertained by all AIR stations. In remote and far flung areas, canvassors are appointed for bringing in local business. There are 15 main CBS Stations, located in each state capital responsible for booking for their entire state. Besides there is a Central Sales Unit called as CSU at Mumbai meant for booking for more than one state. A single window booking facility is available in CSU to facilitate bulk booking with a single contract. Further details of CSU are available at their website" www.csuair.org.in".

Community Radio Centres (5)
Name of State
Sl.No.
Station Name
Date of Comm.
Tr.Strength
Nagaland(English)
1
Mon
10.06.2000
1 KW MW
2
Tuensang
10.06.2000
1 KW MW
Meghalaya(Khasi, Garo)
3
Nongstoin
10.06.2000
1 KW MW
4
Williamnagar
01.07.2000
1 KW MW
Mizoram(Mizo)
5
Saiha
10.06.2000







.
CHANNELS AND PROGRAMMES
Broadcasting started in India 1927 with two privately owned transmitters at Bombay and Calcutta. All India Radio came into existence in 1936 and came to be known as Akashvani from 1957. First News Bulletin was broadcast on January 19, 1936.
PRASAR BHARATIPrasar Bharati the autonomous Broadcasting Corporation of India was constituted by the Government of India to fulfill its commitment to free electronic media from government control. Akashvani and Doordarshan are being managed by Prasar Bharati Board appointed in November 1997.
ALL INDIA RADIOThe phenomenal growth achieved by All India Radio through seven decades had made it to one of the largest media organisations in the world. At the time of Independence the nation had only 6 broadcasting stations and 18 transmitters. Now in the new millennium, it has about 215 stations and 337 transmitters. To serve the communication needs of a plural society of India the network expanded gradually imbibing new technology and programme production techniques.
OBJECTIVESTo provide information, education and entertainment, for promoting the Welfare and happiness of the masses(Bahujan Hitaya Bahujan Sukhaya), All India Radio strives to:
a) Uphold the unity of the country and the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution.b) Present a fair and balanced flow of information of national, regional. local and international interest, including contrasting views, without advocating any opinion or ideology of its own.c) Promote the interests and concerns of the entire nation, being mindful of the need for harmony and understanding within the country and ensuring that the programmes reflect the programmes reflect the varied elements which make up the composite culture of India.d) Produce and transmit varied programmes designed to awaken, inform, enlighten, educate, entertain and enrich all sections of the people.e) Produce and transmit programmes relating to developmental activities in all their facets including extension work in Agriculture, Education, Health & Family Welfare and Science and Technology.f) Serve the rural, illiterate and underprivileged populations, keeping in mind the special needs and interest of the young, social and cultural minorities, the tribal populations and of those residing in border regions, backward or remote areas.g) Promote social justice and combat exploitation, inequality and such evils as untouchability and narrow parochial loyalties.h) Serve the rural population, minority, communities, women, children, illiterate as well as other weaker and vulnerable sections of the society.i) Promote national integration.
THREE TIER BROADCASTINGTo realise its objectives AIR has evolved over the years, a three-tier system of broadcasting namely national, regional and local. It caters to the information, education and entertainment needs of the audience through its stations in this country of continental dimensions and with plural society. They provide news, music, spoken word and other programmes in 24 languages and 146 dialects to almost the entire population of the country, about 103 crores as per 2001 census.
National Channel broadcasts national programmes. The regional and sub-regional stations provide the second tier of broadcasting giving programmes in the regional languages and promoting regional cultural facets.
Local Radio is a more recent concept of broadcasting in India. Local Radio Stations were mostly set up at District Headquarter towns. Each of the stations serving a small area provides utility services and reaches right into the heart of the society. What distinguishes the Local Radio from the regional network is its down to earth intimate approach. The programmes of the Local Radio are area specific. They are flexible and spontaneous enough to enable the Station to function as the mouthpiece of the local community. There are also community Radio Centres at 5 places in the North-Eastern India to serve the local tribal people, set up recently.
Transmission timings and programme composition by broad categories of a few AIR Stations are given in the following pages. Each represents one type of station.
AIR DELHI - FM CHANNELSPROGRAMME COMPOSITION OF FM-I CHANNEL
Type of Programme
Duration per day
Percentage
News
24 mts.
1.66
Music
15 hrs. 36 mts.
65.00
Spoken Words
08 hrs.
33.34
Total
24 hrs.
100.00
BREAK UP OF MUSIC
Type of Programme
Duration per day
Percentage
Devotional Music
01 hr.
4.2
Film/Western/pop Music
13 hrs. 36 mts.
56.6
Classical Music
01 hr.
4.2
Total
15 hrs.36 mts.
65.0
FM-II CHANNELFM-II Channel came on air on September 1, 2001 at Delhi as a niche infotainment channel with 30% of News and Current Affairs component and 70% of Entertainment programming.
The total hours of transmission of FM-II channel is 18 hours and 10 minutes.
From November 12, 2001 the programming of FM-II channel has been refurbished as a part of events marking the celebration of Public Service Broadcasting Day at Delhi Station.
The thrust of the change is to position FM-II as a channel, which presents programming of a classic kind. This will be in its various genres of programmes like music and spoken word.
This channel is trying to provide information inter linked with entertainment and bring information updated on traffic, airlines, railways, weather etc.
Similarly, there are two FM Channels at AIR, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata.

Other Programmes :-
Music: Music covers a greater part about 38.43% of total programmes as disseminated by AIR through its different services of national,regional and local centres. Air carries the mission of Indian music with the combination of Hindustani and Carnatic music by arranging ‘ Radio Sangeet Sammelan’ concerts programmatically. This has generated a mutual interests of appreciation and enjoyments of Hindusthani music in southern region and Carnatic in northern region significantly.
Another important milestone of Air, is the inception of national orchestra in its musical programme, widely recogonised as ‘ Vadya Vrindya’ in the year 1952 in Delhi. Latter on another set of orchestra was introduced in Madras,which caters both Hindusthani and Carnatic music to satisfy diverse listeners of interests
Beside this, AIR encourages different types of light musics,folks and tribal songs of many regions by presenting significantly. Folk songs of different region are getting priority as given by AIR,as to preserve and develop such culture in Indian music as well Folk music covers about 11.81 percent of total music programme as catered by AIR.
Two significant music festivals-Thyagaraja and Tunsen are broadcast in national channel including regional centers also. AIR, also entertain western music to its diverse listeners by disseminating through 17 stations in all.
Radio Talks or Discussion :- We , very often listen many talks or discussion that radio provides to us. Such talks or discussion cover many subjects of diverse.Major subjects those are presented of developmental issue like ‘Health’, ‘Education’,’Environment Preservation’,’Self-Eemployment’,and ‘Economic Development’ etc.beside this,discussion on entertaining matters,social and cultural and sports related events, are excellently presented to the listeners all.There are so many important discussions are arranged for the listeners’ interest, by inviting the experts or commentators concerned.
Radio Play or Drama :- Entire radio play or drama consists of sound effect only.Voice presentation of different participants involved in this play programme,,are uniquely placed to the listeners seemingly live. as held in running stage programme. The difference that could be identified is futie indeed.Radio play or drama, represents an invisible running stage programme infront of the listeners all.It is held so,due to the excellent combination of performers activities and musical or sound effect merged into it
Running Commentry On Sports & Games :- AIR, specially arranges running comentry on important sports event like Asian games,Commonwealth Games and matches like cricket,Hockey and Football etc of national and international importance.Through such vocal presentation with greter competence, AIR manages to satisfy innumerous radio listeners successfully.
Broadcasting Codes & Ethics:- Broadcasting policy of India follows over all the codes set up by AIR. AIR codes of broadcasting are as follows which prohibit;
(1) Critisism of friendly countries unfairly that may inflict in between relationship.
(2) Critisism or attack on any religion anyway.
(3) Anykinds of vulgur, obnoxious and imbalanced presentation to the listeners.
(4) Any presentation that disregards and disrespects constitution,court or judiciary and administration anyway.
(5) anykinds of provocative presentation that may inflict communal harmony and relationship.
(6) Any presentation that may inspire turmoils and anarchism nationwide.
(7) anykinds of contemt or condemn to the President, chief-justice of supreme and high court, ministry of the rulling party and other distinguished person anyhow.
(8) Aspersion of any religion,cast and group anyway.
(9) Publicity of any individual,company or any organization anyway.
Ethics Of Radio Broadcasting:- Radio is primarily engaged as the medium for entertainment and education to the listeners. Allthough, radio is designated to be working as the medium for public services. Radio, as being a mass medium, works with specific mission and vision. It maintains strictly all of its presented programmes fairly and in balance manner. It never presents any provocative or inductive programme,that may seduce the listeners. It carries the theme and concept of national integration, culture and heritage overall.It avoids anykinds of abusive programme that can inflict someone’s privacy or interest. It oftenly tries to encourage the developmental issues as undertaken by the rulling government as well.Radio always keep closer attention towards making this institution to be unembarrassing and decent medium with maintaining an intimate environment for the listeners all.
Effectiveness Of Radio:- Radio networks covers widely, almost every corner of our country. Radio programmes are well accepted with greater emphasis in rural areas profusely. It does not signify that, the urban people all are not interested and reluctant to radio programmes.Radio can satisfy both rural and urban audience , by catering its lot of diverse programmes and maintains a balance in between them at the same time uniquely.
It is true, that Radio have conquered the heart of the rural people as compared to the urban people. Because,rural people of India,are by and large poor and can not afford mostly,the expane for ny television se.Radio set stands to be fit and affordable to them largely.Radio programmes are keenly arranged so, to inform and educate many poor and illiterate people of the rural areas in best manner and satisfactorily as well. There are so many programmes on developing the agriculture sector,are presented in regular basis,as to educte and aware the agriculturists all conveniently. Beside this, there are so mny programmes including various campaigns are carried out by AIR, as to enhance the ‘mission of birth control’ in our countr through . Moreover, ‘education for all’ mission is successfully encouraged by radi through its different routined programmes all.