All India Radio's streaming services launched on Amazon Alexa smart devices

All India Radio has launched Amazon Echo dot Device on Alexa in 14 different Indian  languages. This is a voice service led by artificial intelligence capable of giving crystal clear audio quality of radio services to the desirous audiences irrespective of where they are in the world.  

The services of AIR available at the moment are Vividh Bharati/FM Gold/FM Rainbow/AIR Urdu/AIR Gujarati/AIR Marathi/AIR Marathi/AIR Punjabi/AIR Malayalam/AIR Tamil/AIR Telugu/AIR Kannada/AIR Bangla/AIR Raagam/AIR Odia/Radio Kashmir/AIR Assamese/North Eastern Service.

The launch was done by the Hon'ble Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore today, the 28th September, 2018 at 3.00 P.M. in the Fielden Hall of Akashvani Bhawan on the Parliament Street, New Delhi.  Those who attended included Dr. A. Surya Prakash, Chairman Prasar Bharati, Shri Shashi Shekhar Vempati, Chief Executive Officer Prasar Bharati, Shri F. Sheheryar, Director General All India Radio, Ms. Supriya Sahu, Director General Doordarshan, Shri C.B.S. Maurya, Engineer-in-Chief All India Radio and Directors General of News for Doordarshan & All India Radio.  

On the occasion, Shri F. Sheheryar, Director General All India Radio outlined the need to have such services through Amazon Alexa in view of the country making fast strides in the direction of digital India.  Shri Rajiv Sawhney, Principal Business Development Manager, Amazon and Shri Dilip R.S., Country Manager, Alexa Skills in India made a Power Point Presentation on types of devices and impact thereof apart from services available, reach and functional instructions.  They also highlighted significance of voice in transforming people's lives.  

Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, the Hon'ble Minister, congratulated Amazon and All India Radio for this unique partnership with the public service broadcaster and expressed his pleasure and happiness of seeing the lives of homes becoming easy through devices such as this.  All the dignitaries including the Hon'ble Minister, Chairman Prasar Bharati, Chief Executive Officer Prasar Bharati and Directors General apart from others gave voice commands to Alexa and thus the services were launched formally for the people in India and Indians abroad apart from PIOs and the larger Indian diaspora in different parts of the world.  Chairman Prasar Bharati highlighted the need to have availability of archival assets on the device to which Director General All India Radio said that exclusive news as originated by All India Radio and the archival assets of All India Radio will subsequently be brought on Alexa.

Brief information about Amazon Echo and Alexa

Amazon Echo Dot, Echo, Echo Plus and Echo Spot are voice-controlled speakers designed entirely around your voice-they are always ready, hands-free, and fast.   Alexa is the brain behind Echo-since Alexa runs in the cloud, the service is always getting smarter.  Just ask, and Alexa will answer questions, play music, read the news, set timers and alarms, check the calendar, provide sports scores, control lights at home, and much more.  With Echo's far-field voice control, you can do all this from across the room using just your voice.

Now you can listen to your favourite radio stations, All India Radio's 17 Services in 14 Indian Languages on Alexa.  This LIVE broadcast is available for Alexa users worldwide across India, United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

All you need is to say the following and Alexa shall play the corresponding LIVE broadcast station.

"Alexa Open All India Radio Vividh Bharati"

"Alexa Open All India Radio FM Gold"

"Alexa Open All India Radio Kannada"

"Alexa Open All India Radio Kashmir"

"Alexa Open All India Radio Raagam" and so on…

"Listening to music, news and utility messaging is one of the most popular capabilities on Alexa.  Customers love how convenient it is to simply ask Alexa to play songs based on their preferences in different personal and family moments", said Dilip R.S., Country Manager for Alexa Skills, Amazon India.  "I'm excited that customers can now listen music, news & utility, public service messages from All India Radio in 14 languages, with over 17 Alexa skills.  You can start with just asking 'Alexa, open All India Radio FM Gold' to relieve old melodies."

(Press Release)

ABC sacks Michelle Guthrie as Managing Director

ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie was sacked from the national broadcaster half-way through her five-year term.

ABC chairman Justin Milne said the decision to exit Ms Guthrie, 53, half-way through her five-year term follows discussions with the executive and ABC directors.

Full story at :

https://www.9news.com.au/2018/09/24/10/01/michelle-guthrie-departs-as-abc-managing-director

FTIOM & UBMP, September 16-October 6

From the Isle of Music, September 16-October 6:

September 16-22, our special guest will be Alejandro Vargas with his excellent Jazz.

September 23-29, we will feature the music of several of Cuba's excellent female vocalists from various decades.

September 30-October 6, we will feature Rafael Monteagudo with his excellent Jazz.

The transmissions take place:

1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)

2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This has been audible in parts of NW, Central and Southern Europe with an excellent skip to Italy recently.

3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Also recommended:

Jetzt geht's los! (Here We Go!), an excellent program of early German Jazz produced by Radio Ohne Nahmen, comes on right before FTIOM on Tuesdays from 1800-1900 UTC on Channel 292.

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, September 16 -October 2, 2018

Episode 80 (September 16 and 18) features music from Russia from the 1970s to now.

Episode 81 (September 23 and 25) features music from Ukraine.

Episode 82 (September 30 and October 2) features virtuosic accordion music from around the planet.

The transmissions take place:

1. Sundays 2200-2230 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on

WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

2. Tuesdays 2000-2030 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe. If current propagation conditions hold, the broadcast should reach from Iceland to Western Russia, Scandinavia down to North Africa and the Middle East, AND a long bounce to parts of New Zealand.

Also recommended:

Marion's Attic, a unique program produced and hosted by Marion Webster featuring early 20th Century records, Edison cylinders etc played on the original equipment, comes on immediately before UBMP on Sundays from 2100-2200 UTC on WBCQ 7490 Khz.

SDR-Radio Version 3.0.3 Available

SDR-Radio Version 3.0.3 is now available :

https://www.sdr-radio.com/Blog/PostId/41/release-303

Download: https://www.sdr-radio.com/Software/Downloads

(Simon Brown, G4ELI)
www.sdr-radio.com

Presentation on DRM by Pune hams on 9th Sept

Amateur Radio enthusiasts from Pune will meet on Sunday, 9th Sept in hall above Hotel Kollage at 10:30 AM. Mr Ashok Kale, Asst Director (E) from All India Radio, Pune will deliver a presentation on Digital Radio Mondiale.

Brief synopsis on 'DRM Radio Broadcasting

The 'Digitalization' is the buzzword. In the field of Radio Broadcasting, the Digitalization is happening in phases at various segments of production, distribution  and transmission worldwide. In many of the  developed countries this is complete & traditional analog transmission systems  are being switched off or phased out. Worldwide there are three Radio broadcast standards/Technologies (DAB/HD/DRM) which have been adopted along with few proprietary implementations in some countries. In our country we have adopted DRM Radio standards for MW and SW Broadcasts is being implemented in a big way.

All India Radio, Pune has already commissioned DRM transmitter for it's MW Channel and broadcasting regularly in simulcast mode (Analog + Digital). It also broadcasts in full DRM mode, as test transmission on its 792 kHz frequency with two stereo signals and data services like Journaline, EPG etc.

Features of various digital radio technologies with special focus on DRM, benefits to various stakeholders (Govt., Broadcasters, Listeners), it's implementation status  in India, DRM Receiver availability/status  and associated issues will be discussed briefly during the presentation.

         

(Source : "Pune Hams" FB group)

Ampegon Takes Over Transradio’s MW Product Line

Acquires Transradio Tram and Sciamp product lines, manufacturing site, warehouse and core team in Berlin

Ampegon Group says it's made a strategic decision to step back into the medium wave transmitter market by acquiring the Transradio Tram and Sciamp product lines, together with the manufacturing site, warehouse and the core team in Berlin.

Read rge RadioWorld story at :

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/ampegon-takes-over-transradios-mw-product-line

Radio Taiwan International German test transmissions via Kostinbrod, Bulgaria

Dear listeners,

Radio Taiwan International plans to switch the provider for its broadcast of the German program on shortwave in Europe for cost reasons. 

We therefore ask you to observe the following test shipments in September 2018:

Friday, September 7th

Saturday, September 8th

Friday, September 14th

Saturday, September 15th

Each from 1900 - 1930 UTC on the frequency 5900 kHz

(Transmitter location: Kostinbrod, Bulgaria)

(Source : RTI German Website)

DRM awareness meet held at Chennai

The Ardic DX Club, Chennai conducted an awareness programme among public and shortwave listeners in Chennai about Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) on September 2, 2018.

The meeting started with T. Jaisakthivel, President of the Ardic DX Club welcoming members of the club and the public, who had gathered at Nageswara Park, Mylapore, venue of the meeting. He explained about the activities of the club and introduced the topic of the meeting—DRM.

N. Arun Kumar, one of the Ardic DX club member narrated his experience about buying "NewStar 111" DRM receiver from China in 2013. He explained in detail how DRM technology works and the advantages of the technology.

"A listener will be able to listen to his favourite DX station without any atmospheric noise or fading, in other words, one can listen to the programme in FM stereo quality, even a distant radio station which use to sound noisy in Shortwave can be heard with crystal clear audio, which is one of the biggest advantages of DRM," he said.

Listing out the other benefits of DRM he said that broadcasters would be able to send data such as text, pictures and Journaline to listener's DRM receiver.

Arun Kumar also said that All India Radio (AIR) has implemented DRM technology in most of its transmitters. "India is one of the countries which pioneered DRM when the technology was in its nascent stage. The Indian Government has invested several hundreds of crores for upgrading/replacing its transmitters to DRM," he said.

Dr. N. Mohan, one of the listeners who tunes into distant DRM radio stations using his Software Defined Radio (SDR) presented a demonstration of receiving DRM signal using his computer, which several of the onlookers watched with keen interest.

"I have been listening to several DRM stations using my SDR for longtime, I enjoy tuning to DRM stations and I have also been in touch with several radio stations broadcasting their programmes in DRM mode," he added.

On this occasion a book authored by N.Arun Kumar about radio titled "You are listening to" in Tamil was also released.

The meeting ended with members requesting the DRM Consortium to conduct an awareness programme in Chennai for the benefit of larger public.

(Arun Kumar)

Digital Radio Mondiale at IBC 2018: ‘DRM Drives Forward’

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is gearing up for an exciting presence and new announcements at this year's International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam 14th—19th September. IBC is the leading global tradeshow for broadcasters and media professionals and attracts over 1700 exhibitors from all over the world.

Under the overarching theme "DRM Drives Forward" the DRM Consortium has arranged a series of events aimed at giving a full picture of the many DRM global developments that have taken place in the last 12 months, with relevant announcements for the future. At all DRM events participants will be able to receive the latest updates on market developments in India and the rest of Asia, Africa, Europe and attend demonstrations of all the latest and this time also new DRM broadcast equipment and receivers. The DRM series will be kicked-off with an exciting event hosted by Fraunhofer IIS. This event will focus on one African country and how DRM can deliver for a lot of large countries with diverse communities and needs. A good opportunity to bring you some breaking and exciting news from India, too.

All those interested are invited to meet DRM experts, broadcasters and manufacturers: Fraunhofer IIS and several members of the DRM Consortium on Friday 14th September (Hall 8 B80 from 1500 to 1630), Nautel on September the 15th between 1530 and 1700 (Hall 8 C49). And Sunday 16th September Ampegon is inviting all those interested to a special event from 1100 to 1300 (Hall 8 E62).

Ruxandra Obreja, the Consortium Chairman, says that: "The Consortium members want to give those attending a concise view of DRM across the globe and discuss, based on real experiences, the practical ways of implementing DRM. New broadcast and receiver equipment on display will give everyone interested in the digital future of radio the confidence that DRM can be used now to deliver full country coverage and enhanced services to all listeners. DRM makes possible an immediate digital future for all broadcasters large or small, offering more programme choice to listeners, extra multimedia services, emergency warning functionality with increased energy savings and spectrum efficiency."

If you want to attend the DRM events, please contact: projectoffice@drm.org

(Press Release)

All India Radio Mysuru (FM 100.6) launches mobile app "AIR Mysuru Live"

All India Radio, Mysuru had started live streaming of its programmes through its website www.airmysuru.com in April this year. It has drawn huge positive response from the listeners from different parts of the world. 

For the ease of the listeners and to make live streaming more user friendly, a mobile application was developed and dedicated to listeners on from 15th August 2018.AIR Mysuru's official app " AIR Mysuru Live" offers a bouquet of information, entertainment and public service rendered mainly in Kannada with certain programmes in Hindi etc. It caters to the cultural needs of mobile – wielding listening by Kannadigas living in India and Abroad. It cares for Nostalgic Indians living far away from Karnataka and missing mother tongue Kannada.

Mobile application is available free of cost from google play store. Listeners having Android Mobile Phones may down load it and can enjoy AIR Mysuru FM 100.6. Besides, Mobile App also gives you option to listen National News in English & Regional News in Kannada. Morning, Mid Day & Evening News are available for next 24 hours till these are replaced. Listeners may also contact AIR Mysuru

By :AIR Mysuru,  mysore@prasarbharati.gov.in

Source : http://airddfamily.blogspot.com/2018/09/launch-of-mobile-app-of-air-mysuru-fm.html

10 KW FM transmitter of AIR (101 MHz) inaugurated at Patnitop in J&K

The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today inaugurated 10KW transmitter of All India Radio at Patnitop in Ramban District of Jammu & Kashmir, that will provide services to people living in a radius of around 60 km (aerial) in various districts.

While inaugurating the FM transmitter Dr Singh said that with the commissioning of the relay transmitter  at Patnitop, the high reaches and remote areas of the State in various districts like Ramban, Doda, Udhampur, Anantnag  and parts of Jammu would now be able to listen to the radio for entertainment and information more clearly. He further said that the commissioning of the relay transmitter had fulfilled the long pending demand of the local people. Shri Neelam Langeh , MLA Ramban and Director General , All India Radio Shri Fayyaz Sheheryar were also present on the occasion.

While appreciating All India Radio for coming upto the expectations of the people in the era of tough challenges and competitions from private TV channels, Dr. Jitendra Singh  said that AIR can play a key role in countering the malicious  and fake propaganda being unleashed by some anti-national elements and mischief mongers .  

While addressing the audience, Dr Singh said that in the era of social media where misinformation spreads quickly, the credibility and trustworthiness of AIR serves as an alternative yet accurate source of information for the audience. The medium is prompt, credible and instantaneous and has continued to remain so despite the fast changing media landscape.

Dr Singh, while referring to radio as a medium for information as well as entertainment said that the medium is still relevant and its reach is greater than other types of media. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it engages us even while not disengaging us from the work we are doing. The medium, its use and applications have changed over time, but it continues to remain relevant. Citing example, Dr Singh said that the use of the radio for education (Tele-education) has opened new niche for the applicability of the medium in the modern digital age.

While highlighting the important role played by the public broadcaster towards the socio-economic development of the country, Dr Singh said that the FM Transmitter would provide people access to information related to developmental initiatives of the Government and will open a new chapter in the developmental journey of the region. The Union Minister said that now the people living in remote and mountainous areas of the J&K State would be able to listen to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme and will also be able to know about various developmental programmes and welfare schemes launched by the  Government.

MLA Ramban while expressing gratitude on behalf of the people of the district for the installation of the FM transmitter at Patnitop said that it was a historic development for the physical as well as emotional connectivity of the remote areas of the district.  

Earlier in his address, Director General, All India Radio, Shri Fayyaz Sheheryar said that the installation of  the 10 KW FM transmitter at Patnitop was a landmark achievement  for reaching out to the people in remote areas of the state by the public broadcaster. He expressed the hope that the Station at Udhampur would be commissioned before the end of current year and ensured that steps would be taken for augmenting the reach of the public broadcaster in difficult areas of the state.

The 10KW transmitter will help cover an ariel distance of 60 km in nearby districts of Doda, Ramban, Udhampur and parts of Jammu. It wil be available in the frequency of 101 MHz. It will provide services in districts of Ramban, Doda, Udhampur, Anantnag and parts of Jammu and will also be heard across the border especially in and around Sialkot.

BB/NK/NJ

(Source : Press Information Bureau, Government of India)

Related :

10KW AIR transmitter inaugurated at Patnitop

https://kashmirreader.com/2018/09/03/10kw-air-transmitter-inaugurated-at-patnitop/

Jitendra Singh inaugurates AIR's 10 KW FM transmitter in J K's Ramban

https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/jitendra-singh-inaugurates-air-s-10-kw-fm-transmitter-in-j-k-s-ramban-118090200626_1.html

Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates 10KW AIR transmitter at Patnitop 

http://www.5dariyanews.com/news/245730-Dr-Jitendra-Singh-inaugurates-10KW-AIR-transmitter-at-Patnitop

IRDR B18

Following IRDR channels could be extended on the last HFCC in Bratislava. The new times will be effective October 28th, 2018, which is the start of the upcoming B18 winter season.

The new coordinated times are:

7400 kHz from 21:00 - 22:00 UTC and 23:00 - 24:00 UTC will change to 21:00 - 24:00 UTC

9430 kHz from 01:00 - 12:00 UTC and 13:00 - 14:00 UTC will change to 01:00 – 14:00 UTC

11840 kHz from 06:00 - 24:00 UTC will change to 05:00 - 24:00 UTC

(Via Michael Puetz)

More about IRDR : http://www.hfcc.org/humanitarian/

Guidelines for the use of IRDR frequencies

http://www.hfcc.org/doc/HFCC_GOE_2015-002b-IRDR_Guidelines-rev_2017-09-22.pdf

Mystery Broadcast of AWR DX Program “Wavescan”

WINB Test Transmissions

At the present time, the American shortwave station WINB is conducting a lengthy series of test transmissions in the digital DRM mode from its new transmitter at Red Lion in Pennsylvania. According to Hans Johnson, Frequency Manager for WINB, these test transmissions are beamed to Europe and to North Africa.

The AWR international DX program "Wavescan" has been invited to participate in the WINB test transmissions and these special digital broadcasts are scheduled to be on the air during the month of September.  Reception reports on the reception of these DRM broadcasts will be most welcome and they can be addressed to both WINB in Pennsylvania and to the AWR DX program "Wavescan" in Indiana.

The schedule for the broadcasts of "Wavescan" over WINB indicates that this half hour DX program will be on the air twice each week, Monday and Friday, at 1630 UTC on 15670 kHz.  In addition, there will be another broadcast of "Wavescan" during the week in between the Monday and Friday, a Mystery Broadcast, on a day and at a time not announced in advance.

All reception reports addressed to "Wavescan" will be verified with a specially endorsed QSL card, and reception reports of the unannounced in-between Mystery Broadcasts will be honored additionally with a souvenir from AWR in Indiana.  Reception reports indicating reception in the digital DRM mode are preferred, though honest reception reports in the analog mode will also be appreciated.  The analog reports will at least give an indication to WINB of the coverage area of these test transmissions.

Multiple reception reports, each on a different day, will be verified individually with the specially endorsed QSL card.

All of the "Wavescan" broadcasts are scheduled for transmission on 15670 kHz and genuine reception reports from anywhere in the world will be most appreciated.  These may be sent by email, or by postal mail with an address label and return postage if possible.  Remember that IRC Coupons are now no longer valid in the United States.  Remember also that the postal address in Indiana has been "borrowed" temporarily and it is valid only in September and October.

Shortwave radio station WINB is owned and operated by World International broadcasters and it was inaugurated in October 1962 with a 50 kW Continental transmitter Model No 417B.  The original transmitter was rebuilt and taken into service again in 1997.

The international DX program "Wavescan" is a co-operative venture on the part of Adventist World Radio and KSDA Guam, Radio Miami International WRMI in Florida, Voice of Hope KVOH in California and Voice of Hope in Zambia Africa, and World Wide Christian Radio WWCR in Tennessee.  

Please note the following addresses for reception reports on the WINB test broadcasts:-

* By email to WINB: WINB40th@yahoo.com

* By postal mail to WINB: Box 88, Red Lion, Pennsylvania 17356, USA

* By email to "Wavescan": adrian.m.peterson @ gmail.com

* By postal mail to "Wavescan":

Adventist World Radio

WINB Test Broadcasts

Box 771

Bloomington

Indiana 47402-0771

USA

(Via Dr. Adrian M. Peterson, International Relations, Adventist World Radio)