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Warangal: Surviving and staying ahead is not all that easy in the predominantly entertainment-oriented and the highly competitive FM world that spread across a narrow band of spectrum from 87.5 MHz to 108 MHz.Began its journey as the 100th radio station in the country in 1990, 10 KW Warangal Akashvani FM local radio station (LRS) not only made a niche for itself but also brought back the radio spice of yesteryears.When the LRS (103.5MHz) went on the air on this very day in 1990, it dished out programmes for four hours and 15 minutes.
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Over the years, it was increased to 17 hours a day. However, the channel was mooted to cover a radius of 30 kilometers, people living in as far as Etur Nagaram mandal are able to catch the broadcast. With exemption to some parts of upland region (Champak hills) of Janagon district, the Warangal FM is covering all corners.Despite the LRS has to contend with a private commercial FM channel, its programmes, especially Udaya Tarangini and Kisan Vani are a huge hit among the people.
Significantly, the station is doing its best in keeping alive the local art forms such as Oggu katha, Yakshaganam etc. besides providing a bit of livelihood opportunity to many an artiste. The LRS has 58 RJs on its radar to present programmes. Speaking to The Hans India, PA to the AIR Warangal Director AV Anil Prasad said: “What we broadcast is based on artiste-oriented rather than the radio jockey-dominated programmes of the commercial FM players. The live interactive programmes covering information about health, education, agriculture and other issues have captured a huge listener-base.” He said that the LRS broadcasts will be further boosted as they are procuring a sophisticated transmitter soon.
Despite this, there is a long-pending demand that the LRS deserves the status of Grade A, upgrading the FM to medium wave (MW) service. The MW will cover a radius of 200 km to 300 km. Hyderabad has the only MW station in Telangana while Andhra Pradesh has three, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Kadapa. Other FM stations in the State are Adilabad, Nizamabad and Kothagudem while the one established in Karimnagar is only a relay station and yet to churn out programmes.If the Warangal LRS is upgraded, it will accommodate more programmes such as news, music, drama etc. thus creating more employment opportunities to the local youth.
The Warangal FM, which hosted the programmes of several eminent personalities like Kaloji Narayan Rao, Nerella Venu Madhav and Ampasayya Naveen, has on Friday celebrated its 28th birth anniversary.
Source & Credit:http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Warangal-Tab/2017-02-18/Warangal-FM-radio-station-brings-back-yesteryears-spice/281433
Forwarded By:Jainender Nigam,PB Newsdesk & Social Media,prasarbharati.newsdesk@gmail.com