Digital Radio Mondiale

                  AIR has installed 35 DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale)  MW  transmitters  of capacities ranging from 20 kW to 1000 kW at various places across India. These DRM MW transmitters are capable to provide digital broadcast in major parts of India. The main advantages of these transmitters are better sound broadcast quality as compared to conventional AM MW broadcast with added advantages like additional channels broadcast Text and journaline  features. In addition to this, AIR has also installed  one high power SW  DRM transmitter and two more such transmitter are under installation  for external broadcast.  AIR has incurred an amount of about Rs. 370 crore on digitization of its MW & SW transmitters.  

        

LIST OF MW/SW TRANSMITTERS REPLAED BY DRM TRANSMITTERS
SL.NO.	PLACE	STATE	POWER	MW/SW	DATE OF COMMISSIONING
1	VIJAYWADA	ANDHRA PRADESH	100 KW	MW	12.05.15
2	PASSIGHAT	ARUNACHAL PRADESH	100 KW	MW	20.06.16
3	PATNA	BIHAR	100 KW	MW	26.06.15
4	PANAJI	GOA	100 KW	MW	25.02.15
5	RANCHI	JHARKHAND	100 KW	MW	29.03.16
6	MUMBAI 'A'	MAHARASHTRA	100 KW	MW	09.06.15
7	MUMBAI 'B'	MAHARASHTRA	100 KW	MW	09.06.15
8	PUNE	MAHARASHTRA	100 KW	MW	04.03.15
9	TIRUCHIRAPALLI	TAMILNADU	100 KW	MW	26.09.15
10	VARANASI	UP	100 KW	MW	24.06.15
11	KOLKATA B	WB	100 KW	MW	12.02.16
12	RAJKOT	GUJRAT	1000 KW	MW	10.09.12
13	CHINSURAH	WB	1000 KW	MW	05.03.14
14	TAWANG	ARUNACHAL PRADESH	20 KW	MW	01.07.13
15	GUWAHATI 'B'	ASSAM	20 KW	MW	01.07.13
16	DELHI (VB)	DELHI	20 KW	MW	02.08.13
17	BARMER	RAJASTHAN	20 KW	MW	27.04.13
18	BIKANER	RAJASTHAN	20 KW	MW	16.07.13
19	CHENNAI (VB)	TAMILNADU	20 KW	MW	12.04.13
20	ITANAGAR	ARUNACHAL PRADESH	200 KW	MW	16.06.16
21	DELHI 'A'	DELHI	200 KW	MW	01.06.14
22	JABALPUR	M.P.	200 KW	MW	30.10.15
23	AJMER	RAJASTHAN	200 KW	MW	18.10.15
24	KOLKATA A	WB	200 KW	MW	08.07.15
25	SILIGURI	WB	200 KW	MW	07.01.16
26	AHEMDABAD	GUJARAT	200 KW	MW	22.01.16
27	BANGALORE	KARNATAKA	200 KW	MW	20.03.15
28	DHARWAD	KARNATAKA	200 KW	MW	20.09.15
29	CHENNAI 'A'	TAMILNADU	200 KW	MW	25.07.15
30	DIBRUGARH	ASSAM	300 KW	MW	31.03.16
31	RAJKOT	GUJARAT	300 KW	MW	21.03.15
32	JAMMU	J&K	300 KW	MW	17.05.15
33	JALLANDHAR	PUNJAB	300 KW	MW	14.07.16
34	SURATGARH	RAJASTHAN	300 KW	MW	20.05.16
35	LUCKNOW	UP	300 KW	MW	11.03.15
36	BANGALORE	KARNATAKA	500 KW	SW	01.01.2014
37	KINGSWAY	DELHI	100 KW	SW	UNDER INSTALLATION
38	KINGSWAY	DELHI	100 KW	SW	UNDER INSTALLATION

Play it again, Akashvani!

It is that time of the year again! When “the hill side is dew pearled” at “mornings at seven”! Robert Browning’s Pippa’s Song is playing out in the mindscape. Yes, it is that time of the year when the long hot summer looks forward to a little respite, when the mist waits in the wings for its entry cue,  when festivals and fiestas line up to unfold their special brands of magic. And when All India Radio is all geared up for its annual date with its listeners … where the music moves out of its studios to grace a score and more of stages across the country. Studded with a galaxy of artistes. Serving up a cornucopia of music.

Yes, we are talking of the annual Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan organized simultaneously in 24 different cities across the country. The annual music festival whose rich legacy goes back to 1954 and which has built an enduring bond between artiste and listener and served both well. To preserve, propagate a heritage, to patronise the musical arts, to present and promote it to generation after generation. Akashvani has done it with elan. And devotion. In the true spirit of public service.

Let us take you back to 23 October 1954. To Sapru House, New Delhi. Where the Sammelan started with a three-day concert. Around the same time when the pandits and ustads had lost the patronage of more than 600 princes and nawabs. When there were very few institutions and patrons that could fund and organize music concerts. With this endeavour of Akashvani, the State would take over the role of princely patrons and ensure transparency and fair play by introducing a system of grading artistes.  A system was in place for music auditions.

 Today, while we mark the 64th year of this festival, we can proudly claim that the system has stood the test of time.  That most of the present day luminaries in our musical firmament still abide by it. 

While Akashvani plays on, it has also changed its beat with the times. And today we are proudly moving this system to the digital age. Along with this year’s Sangeet Sammelan on 7 October 2017, we shall launch our online music audition system.

Come, join us at the high table of music on 7 October!  24 different venues! 68 artistes! Come, feel the magic!

-          By Basudha Banerji