All India Radio (AIR), officially known as Akashvani, is India's national public radio broadcaster. It was established in 1930 and is a division of Prasar Bharati. AIR operates numerous services across India in many languages. It is one of the largest radio networks in the world with over 250 stations. AIR traces its origins back to radio clubs in British India and was formally established after the government took over broadcasting facilities in 1930.
All India Radio (AIR), officially known as Akashvani, is India's national public radio broadcaster. It was established in 1930 and is a division of Prasar Bharati. AIR operates numerous services across India in many languages. It is one of the largest radio networks in the world with over 250 stations. AIR traces its origins back to radio clubs in British India and was formally established after the government took over broadcasting facilities in 1930.
All India Radio (AIR), officially known as Akashvani, is India's national public radio broadcaster. It was established in 1930 and is a division of Prasar Bharati. AIR operates numerous services across India in many languages. It is one of the largest radio networks in the world with over 250 stations. AIR traces its origins back to radio clubs in British India and was formally established after the government took over broadcasting facilities in 1930.
All India Radio (AIR), officially known as Akashvani, is India's national public radio broadcaster. It was established in 1930 and is a division of Prasar Bharati. AIR operates numerous services across India in many languages. It is one of the largest radio networks in the world with over 250 stations. AIR traces its origins back to radio clubs in British India and was formally established after the government took over broadcasting facilities in 1930.
For the electronica band, see All India Radio (band). For Sanskrit term, see Akashvani (term). For other uses, see Akashvani.
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2012) All India Radio
Type Government Organisation Country India Availability National Motto Bahujan Hitaya Bahujan Sukhaya [1]
Headquarters Sansad Marg, New Delhi- 110001, India, Owner Prasar Bharati Launch date 1930 Official website www.allindiaradio.org,www.newsonair.nic.in
AIR headquarters in New Delhi All India Radio (AIR), officially known since 1956 as Akashvani (kshavn literally, "Voice of the Sky"), is the nationalpublic radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1930, [2] it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national public television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks in the world. Its headquarters is at the Akashvani Bhavan in New Delhi. Akashvani Bhavan houses the Drama Section, the FM Section and the National Service. Doordarshan Kendra (Delhi) offices are also located on the sixth floor at Akashvani Bhavan. The word "Akashvani" was coined by M. V. Gopalaswamy of Mysore in 1936. Contents [hide] 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Domestic services o 3.1 Vividh Bharati o 3.2 Other services include o 3.3 Regional services 4 External services o 4.1 Comparison 5 Other services o 5.1 Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) o 5.2 News-on-phone service o 5.3 Direct-to-home service o 5.4 Documentaries o 5.5 Central Drama Unit o 5.6 Social Media Cell 6 Controversy 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Etymology[edit] The word kavni () is taken from Sanskrit. In Sanskrit Akashvani means a gift or message from heaven. Often in Hindu mythological stories, folk-tales and fables like Panchatantra & Hitopadesha, whenever, Gods wanted to say something, an Akashvani occurred. History[edit] In British India, broadcasting began in July 1923 with programmes by the Radio Club of Bombay and other radio clubs. According to an agreement of 23 July 1927, the private Indian Broadcasting Company LTD (IBC) was authorized to operate two radio stations; the Bombay station began on 23 July 1927, and the Calcutta station followed on 26 August 1927. On 1 March 1930, however, the company went into liquidation. The government took over the broadcasting facilities, beginning the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) on 1 April 1930 (on an experimental basis for two years, and permanently in May 1932). On 8 June 1936; the ISBS was renamed All India Radio. [2]
The word "Akashvani" was coined by M. V. Gopalaswamy after setting up the nations first private radio station in his residence, "Vittal Vihar" (about 200 yards from AIRs current location in Mysore) in 1936. [3] Akashvani means "celestial announcement"; the word, of Sanskrit origin, is often found in Hindu mythology. When the gods wished to say something, an akashvani occurred. Literally, akash means "sky" and vani means "sound" or "message". [4] Thus, Akashvani seemed to be fit for use by a radio broadcaster and was later adopted as All India Radio's on-air name after independence. On 1 October 1939 the External Service began with a broadcast in Pushtu; it was intended to counter radio propaganda from Germany directed to Afghanistan, Iran and the Arab nations. When India became independent in 1947, the AIR network had only six stations (in Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Chennai, Lucknow, andTiruchirappalli); the total number of radio sets at that time was about 275,000. On 3 October 1957 the Vividh Bharati Service was launched, to compete with Radio Ceylon. Television broadcasting began in Delhi in 1959 as part of AIR, but was split off from the radio network as Doordarshan on 1 April 1976. [5] FM broadcasting began on 23 July 1977 in Chennai, and was expanded during the 1990s. [6]
Domestic services[edit]
AIR tower in Mangalore, Karnataka
Kolkata Centre of All India Radio AIR has many services in a number of languages, each serving different regions across India. Vividh Bharati[edit] Vividh Bharati is one of the best-known services of AIR. Its name roughly translates as "Multi-Indian Service", and it is also known as the Commercial Broadcasting Service (CBS). It is the commercially most accessible of the AIR networks and is popular in Mumbai and other large cities. Vividh Bharati offers a wide range of programmes including news, film music and comedy programs. It operates on different mediumwave-band frequencies for each city. Some programs broadcast on Vividh Bharati are: Hawa-mahal: Radio plays based on novels and plays Santogen ki mehfil: Comedy Other services include[edit] Primary Channel [1] National Channel [7]
Regional services[edit] The headquarters of the Regional Deputy Directors General are located at Delhi and Chandigarh (NR), Lucknow and Bhopal (CR), Guwahati (NER), Kolkata (ER), Mumbai and Ahmedabad (WR), Chennai and Bangalore (SR). [8] All frequencies are in kHz, unless otherwise noted.