Our congratulations to PMA member All India Radio (AIR), which has been on-the-air for 80 years!
Officially known as Akashvani – Sanskrit for “a message from the sky” – the national public broadcaster first started broadcasting on 8 June 1936. It is mandated to “provide information, education and entertainment, for promoting the welfare and happiness of the masses” under its motto “Bahujan Hitaya: Bahujan Sukhaya”
Upon independence in 1947, the station had six main radio stations broadcasting from Calcutta, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Lucknow and Tiruchirappalli. Since then the station has flourished and boasts of being one of the largest broadcasters in the world in terms of coverage.
It currently reaches 99.19% of the Indian population with services in 23 languages and operates some 415 stations across India, including 18 FM channels. Broadcasts are also available in 108 countries.
AIR now plans to further expand its services. According to reports, the broadcaster plans to nearly double the coverage of its FM broadcasts from 36.81% to 65% of the Indian population.
All India Radio was born #OnThisDay in 1936.!
‘Indian State Broadcasting Service’ was renamed the #AllIndiaRadio. pic.twitter.com/eeJwSVOTUa— Prasar Bharati (@prasarbharati) June 7, 2016