Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, minister of State (MoS) for information and broadcasting (I&B), was in Chennai on Friday to set in motion Vividh Bharati’s new FM service.
Vividh Bharati began in Chennai in 1957.
The FM services will ensure the entire city is covered as almost every smart device has the capacity to receive FM waves, the MoS said.
“In Chennai, Vividh Bharati has eight hours of local programming for people who like to listen to shows in their own language. The introduction of FM services will ensure a wider coverage in the city,” he said. The MoS also said expanding radio coverage is one of the agendas of the Modi government at the Centre.
“In 11 months, we will hopefully improve the capability of the transmitter. In two-and-a-half years, we will be able to cover 65 per cent of the country with FM,” he said.
Stressing the I&B ministry is focussing its efforts on digitisation, he said the new government is all for using all kinds of media, including social media, to communicate its plans. “A new social media wing has been set up,” the MoS said.
Animesh Chakraborty, engineer-in-chief, All India Radio, said the 10 KW transmitter would soon be upgraded.
