Frequency Modulation (FM) Broadcast: FM was introduced by AIR in 1977 but it was not really activated. It was activated il1 1992:.the hours of FM broadcast increased from 6 to 12 hours a day. All Metros Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras- have a 24 hours FM Rainbow service.
FM has chatty, interactive style of programming and thus radio substitutes as a friend. This is the key to the comeback of radio. The local music talents, who have earlier been6'holly dependent on music festivals and new year parties now have FM to turn to for promotional help it brings local artists to the fore. Thus, with FM, radio has scope for its growth as a powerful medium.
Phone-in-Programme: This provides simultaneous communication. People telephone to the broadcasting station on a given telephone number at the time of broadcast and ask questions and the experts at the station reply to their queries immediately.
Voice-Mail: This is a service facility where people can telephone and record their requests, complaints, suggestions and appreciation, etc. These messages are later retrieved and played back in a special voice Mail Programme with suitable replies to their queries.
Radio Bridge: This is programme on special occasions and is broadcast live by up linking AIR stations through satellite. It represents a live interaction among the participants including listeners in different parts of the country. Presently 20 AIR stations have up linking facility.
Radio Paging: A major application of the additional data service injected in the FM broadcast channel known as RDS is radio paging. It would provide alert signals, emergency calls, valuable information etc., the service will be highly useful for medical professionals, business executives, commercial applications and emergency services. AIR has FM transmitters at 17 centres.
Participants