FM transmission of Vividh Bharati launched

New Delhi, April 14: The popular Vividh Bharati services of All India Radio (AIR) will now be available to listeners in and around Delhi on mobile handsets with the launch of FM transmission of the channel.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley, who launched the FM transmission, also delivered a message to the listeners of the channel, saying Vividh Bharati services would reach people within a range of 60-65 km with much clarity at all times in all weather conditions.

Vividh Bharati offers a mix of film music, skits, short plays and interactive programmes. It is known to have the largest collection of film and non-film songs in the country.

Speaking to reporters later, Jaitley said that not just the FM mode, mobile applications of several AIR channels will also soon be available.

DD News would also have its mobile phone application, he said.

The I&B minister also said the Doordarshan's ‘Kisan' channel could be launched in May. "We are looking for another date, most probably it will be in May. The preparations for the channel is at a fairly advanced stage," he added.

Officials said mobile applications of all channels that are livestreamed by AIR like Vividh Bharati, FM Gold, FM Rainbow, Urdu service and several regional channels, will soon be shortly available.

Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar said that with the launch of FM transmission of Vividh Bharati in Delhi, the availability of the channel would increase by upto 20 times.

Till today, the service was available only on medium wave receivers or radio sets but now it will be available on mobile phones, he said.

Minister of State for I&B Rajyavardhan Rathore, Prasar Bharati chairperson A Surya Prakash, I&B secretary Bimal Julka and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

PTI