In a bid to counter anti-India propaganda by Pakistan through its radio penetration, India on Monday launched an FM station for the border belt near Amritsar that can be heard 50 km into the Pakistani territory.

A 20kW FM transmitter of the All India Radio (AIR) located at Gharinda close to the international border near Amritsar was formally inaugurated by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla, an AIR statement said.

The transmitter, that will be used for both domestic and external broadcast, is of immense strategic importance as programmes radiated from the transmitter can be heard in a radius of 90 km, including up to 50 km inside Pakistan, it said.

Sampla, while inaugurating the transmitter, told reporters that it will help in resolving the issues of non-availability of good quality signals of AIR in Amritsar and surrounding areas, and also help in countering malicious anti-India propaganda unleashed by radio channels from across the border.

The minister expressed hope that the content of the channel would also go a long way in bridging people-to-people contact among the Punjabi speaking people of the two countries.

Chairman Prasar Bharati Surya Prakash said on the occasion that as a public service broadcaster, Prasar Bharati and its two constituents All India Radio and Doordarshan, were committed to playing a catalytic role in the development of the country.

Lauding the role of AIR, the Prasar Bharati Chairman said that AIR has always been at the forefront of preserving the country's cultural heritage and integrity.

Director General AIR Fayyaz Sheheryar said the FM transmitter shall ensure stereo quality listening of radio programmes in the region.

To begin with, the transmitter will carry an assortment of programmes broadcast in Punjabi by FM Rainbow Channel of AIR Jalandhar, 'Des Punjab', and programmes in Saraiki language. Popular programmes of Urdu service of the External Services Division, AIR, will also be broadcast, the statement said.

Des Punjab programme and the programmes in Saraiki which are presently broadcast on medium wave are immensely popular in Pakistan as these are specially devised to focus on the commonality of the Punjabi culture and heritage between the two halves of Punjab, it said.

Initially the transmitter shall carry programmes for 18 hours per day from 6.00 AM to 12.00 midnight.

Amritsar and surrounding areas are inundated by radio programmes broadcast from across the border. The content broadcast from across the border is often found to be not conducive to India's national interest and needs to be countered, the statement said.

This transmitter, due to its strategic location, would provide for countering of any misleading anti-India propaganda and put India's point of view in the correct perspective, it said.&nbsp;

In a bid to counter anti-India propaganda by Pakistan through its radio penetration, India on Monday launched an FM station for the border belt near Amritsar that can be heard 50 km into the Pakistani territory.

In a bid to counter anti-India propaganda by Pakistan through its radio penetration, India on Monday launched an FM station for the border belt near Amritsar that can be heard 50 km into the Pakistani territory. A 20kW FM transmitter of the All India Radio (AIR) located at Gharinda close to the international border near Amritsar was formally inaugurated by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla, an AIR statement said. The transmitter, that will be used for both domestic and external broadcast, is of immense strategic importance as programmes radiated from the transmitter can be heard in a radius of 90 km, including up to 50 km inside Pakistan, it said. Sampla, while inaugurating the transmitter, told reporters that it will help in resolving the issues of non-availability of good quality signals of AIR in Amritsar and surrounding areas, and also help in countering malicious anti-India propaganda unleashed by radio channels from across the border. The minister expressed hope that the content of the channel would also go a long way in bridging people-to-people contact among the Punjabi speaking people of the two countries. Chairman Prasar Bharati Surya Prakash said on the occasion that as a public service broadcaster, Prasar Bharati and its two constituents All India Radio and Doordarshan, were committed to playing a catalytic role in the development of the country. Lauding the role of AIR, the Prasar Bharati Chairman said that AIR has always been at the forefront of preserving the country's cultural heritage and integrity. Director General AIR Fayyaz Sheheryar said the FM transmitter shall ensure stereo quality listening of radio programmes in the region. To begin with, the transmitter will carry an assortment of programmes broadcast in Punjabi by FM Rainbow Channel of AIR Jalandhar, 'Des Punjab', and programmes in Saraiki language. Popular programmes of Urdu service of the External Services Division, AIR, will also be broadcast, the statement said. Des Punjab programme and the programmes in Saraiki which are presently broadcast on medium wave are immensely popular in Pakistan as these are specially devised to focus on the commonality of the Punjabi culture and heritage between the two halves of Punjab, it said. Initially the transmitter shall carry programmes for 18 hours per day from 6.00 AM to 12.00 midnight. Amritsar and surrounding areas are inundated by radio programmes broadcast from across the border. The content broadcast from across the border is often found to be not conducive to India's national interest and needs to be countered, the statement said. This transmitter, due to its strategic location, would provide for countering of any misleading anti-India propaganda and put India's point of view in the correct perspective, it said.

AIR launches FM station in border belt to counter Pak's anti-India propaganda

As Norway completed its transition to digital radio on Wednesday it became the first country in the world to shut down national broadcasts of its FM radio network. The transition to digital radio from FM began on January 11.

Most of Norway&#39;s northern regions and the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic switched to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in the late morning, said Digitalradio Norge (DRN) which groups Norway&#39;s public and commercial radio.

The transition was initiated with an aim to facilitate better sound quality, a greater number of channels and more functions at a cost that was estimated to be roughly eight times lower than FM radio.

The transition concerns only national radio channels. Most local stations continue to broadcast in FM.&nbsp;

The move has been met with some criticism with many pointing toward the insufficiency in DAB coverage across the country.

Radio users have also complained about the cost of having to buy new receivers or adapters, usually priced around 100 to 200 euros ($117 to $235).

Reportedly, only 49 percent are able to listen to DAB in their cars. Another report stated a drop in the number of Norwegians radio listeners by 10 percent in one year.&nbsp;

In a statement carried by AFP, Ole Jorgen Torvmark, Head of DRN, talked about the change that the locals in Norway will have to embrace. &quot;After each shutdown (in a region), we noticed that the audience first dropped but then rose again,&quot; he added.

Countries like Switzerland, Britain and Denmark are due to follow suit in the coming years.

(With inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

Norway completed its transition to digital radio on Wednesday

As Norway completed its transition to digital radio on Wednesday it became the first country in the world to shut down national broadcasts of its FM radio network. The transition to digital radio from FM began on January 11. Most of Norway's northern regions and the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic switched to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in the late morning, said Digitalradio Norge (DRN) which groups Norway's public and commercial radio. The transition was initiated with an aim to facilitate better sound quality, a greater number of channels and more functions at a cost that was estimated to be roughly eight times lower than FM radio. The transition concerns only national radio channels. Most local stations continue to broadcast in FM. The move has been met with some criticism with many pointing toward the insufficiency in DAB coverage across the country. Radio users have also complained about the cost of having to buy new receivers or adapters, usually priced around 100 to 200 euros ($117 to $235). Reportedly, only 49 percent are able to listen to DAB in their cars. Another report stated a drop in the number of Norwegians radio listeners by 10 percent in one year. In a statement carried by AFP, Ole Jorgen Torvmark, Head of DRN, talked about the change that the locals in Norway will have to embrace. "After each shutdown (in a region), we noticed that the audience first dropped but then rose again," he added. Countries like Switzerland, Britain and Denmark are due to follow suit in the coming years. (With inputs from AFP)

Norway becomes first country to switch off FM radio

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AIR launches FM station in border belt to counter Pak's anti-India propaganda

Norway becomes first country to switch off FM radio