India and Bangladesh signs MoU for airtime exchange programme between All India Radio and Bangladesh Betar

India and Bangladesh signed MoU for content/airtime exchange programme between All India Radio and Bangladesh Betar. The MoU was signed in Delhi during the visit of Bangladesh Information Minister Hasan Mahmud to India.The MoU will allow the programmes of Akashwani and Bangladesh Betar to be heard across both the countries.

With today's launch content from AIR Maitree service has started airing in Dhaka and reciprocally content from Bangladesh Betar has started airing on All India Radio in Kolkata and Tripura.   

Bangladesh Betar programmes would be available for listeners in India as per below :

Time : 0730-0930 IST, 1730-1930 IST

Via All India Radio, Kolkata FM Gold Channel on FM 100.1 MHz (20 kW)

Via All India Radio, Agartala FM Ujjwayantha on FM 101.6 MHz (10 kW)

Also through Akashvani app's and DTH.

Simultaneously, All India Radio programmes will be available for listeners in Dhaka, Bangladesh as per below :

Time : 0800-1000 BST, 1800-2000 BST

Via Bangladesh Betar, Dhaka on FM 104.0 MHz (10 kW)

India and Bangladesh join hands for radio diplomacy

All India Radio is set to launch Akashvani Maitree, a Bengali service aimed at those living across the border

After five months of preparation, All India Radio's (AIR) Kolkata station is ready to launch Akashvani Maitree—a service in Bengali aimed primarily at Bangladeshis—as New Delhi looks to strengthen diplomatic ties with Dhaka.

More at :

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/cwpLnpT0YTo95q20kERybM/India-and-Bangladesh-join-hands-for-radio-diplomacy.html

All India Radio, Kolkata launches new website

All India Radio, Kolkata has launched a comprehensive multimedia website, the content consists of rich bouquet of rare photo's, archives, program schedule, station info & information on commercial broadcasting.

The website has a blend of text, pictures, video and audio components, also features live streaming of All India Radio Kolkata's radio programmes. It also has a segment of "Live Radio".

Jawhar Sircar, CEO, Prasar Bharti inaugurated the new website on 10th June,2016.

Visit the new website of All India Radio at : www.airkolkata.gov.in

India to relaunch All India Radio Bengali service by 28th June

India is set to restart the special Bangla radio service for Bangladesh after a gap of six years, the channel, renamed Akashvani Maitree will go live on June 28 in Kolkata in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Read more at:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/media/india-to-relaunch-air-bangla-service-by-month-end/articleshow/52560740.cms

The new Bengali Service will be using AIR Chinsurah 1000 kW transmitter between 0025 - 1740 UTC (0555-2310 IST) with a break in between for frequency change on 594 kHz (Morning and Noon) and on 1134 kHz (in the evening and night). This is not a simulcast of programs broadcasted via Kolkata A or Kolkata B. The current External Services broadcast over this transmitter will be heard in DRM (Digital radio Mondiale) mode.

Update :

The special Bengali service from AIR Chinsurah (1000kw MW) or Akashvani Maitree Channel will be inaugurated by Hon'ble President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee on 28th June for the listeners in Bangladesh and West Bengal. The programs can be heard on 594 kHz MW at 0600-1430 IST (0030-0900 UTC) and 1530-2300 IST (1000-1730 UTC). The current External Service programs now b'cast will be aired in DRM mode on 604 kHz on the same transmitter.

(Alok Dasgupta on FB)

Related :

AIR to revive Bangla service - 'Probably one of its kind in the world'

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160621/jsp/nation/story_92427.jsp#.V2inOGh97IV

AIR Kolkata testing new transmitter

All India Radio, Kolkata is testing new 100 kW Nautel NXP-100 transmitter on 1008 kHz AM and 1018 kHz DRM. Transmitter will be commissioned before 31st March, 2016. SBS ( Special Bangla Service) programs expected by end of Feb'16.

8th Feb 2016 - First noticed by C.K.Raman, Delhi at 1545-1600 UTC in DRM mode (only station label, no audio).

10th Feb 2016 -

Dr.Supratik Sanatani from Kolkata briefly heard a very strong pure tone audio on 1008 kHz AM at 0040 - 0050 UTC. 

Test tones again noted by several listeners at 1330 UTC on 1008 kHz AM.

Running commentary of SAF games started at 1504 hrs still continuing beyond 1520 hrs (No news in Hindi at 1515) - Alok Dasgupta, Kolkata

Test tone at 1330 UTC, video by Debanjan Chakraborty, Kolkata

https://youtu.be/SelpNX8Y7Bs

Hockey match commentary, video by Debanjan Chakraborty, Kolkata

https://youtu.be/9z3EH0gEXkY

Running commentary of India - Srilanka Hockey match continues at 1530 UTC with good signal here at Agartala - Pradip Chandra Kundu, Agartala, Tripura

Test in DRM mode noticed by Debanjan Chakraborty, Kolkata at 1830 UTC, txer went off air at around 1910 UTC.

https://youtu.be/SgXklpz3AfA

Related :

High Power DRM-MW-AM

http://www.nautel.com/solutions/digital-radio/high-power-drm-mw-am-transmitters-air/

New DRM transmitter to be inaugurated at All India Radio,Kolkata

New DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) transmistter at All India Radio, Kolkata ( 'A', 657 kHz) at Chandi to be commissioned by Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar on Sept 8, 2015 making AIR Kolkata digital ready.

Related :

Tune in to nostalgia with new 'Kolkata A' avatar - TOI

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Tune-in-to-nostalgia-with-new-Kolkata-A-avatar/articleshow/48841376.cms?from=mdr

Report and pics on PB Blog

http://airddfamily.blogspot.in/2015/09/200-kw-mw-drm-kolkata-transmitter.html

Video of inauguration

https://youtu.be/ZnN07LmQez8

IDXCI (Indian DX Club Internatonal) story on the visit to this txer site in 2012 :

http://tinyurl.com/poof6or 

AIR Kolkata starts Vividh Bharati service on FM 101.8 MHz

The Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati ‪‎Jawahar Sarkar‬ today inaugurated the 10 kW FM transmitter for Vividh Bharati Service at Doordarshan Kendra premises. It is now available on FM 101.8 MHz.It will broadcast programmes of 15 hours 20 minutes on six days and 16 hours 20 minutes on sunday. In an interaction with the media at ‎Akashvani Bhawan‬, the CEO said, Kolkata is the first metro city to start ‪Vividh Bharati‬ service on FM. The service will be available in all four metro cities shortly.

 

(Via AIR News FB Page)

 

Test transmissions were heard since 15th Dec 2014.

 

Related :

 

Vividh Bharati moves to FM platform

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Vividh-Bharati-moves-to-FM-platform/articleshow/45654448.cms

 

CEO Prasar Bharati inaugurates additional FM channel for AIR Kolkata

http://airddfamily.blogspot.in/2014/12/ceo-prasar-bharati-at-inaugural.html

AIR Kolkata 'A' now on additional frequencies with better coverage

          Prasar Bharati ad that apperead in 8th March,2014 edition of The Telegraph, Kolkata

All India Radio, Kolkata 'A' channel on 657 kHz is now available on additional frequencies via newly installed transmitter at AIR Chinsurah.

 

Schedule :

5.55 am - 3.00 pm (0025 - 0930 UTC) on  594 kHz

5.00 pm - 11.15 pm (1130 - 1745 UTC) on 1134 kHz 

All India Radio special transmission for "Mahalaya"

Date : 27th Sept, 2011 (Tuesday)
Time : 2230 UTC 26th Sept (0400 IST, 27th Sept) to 0015 UTC 27th Sept (0545 IST, 27th Sept)

"Mahalaya" is a special two hour tranmission consisting of Sanskrit recitation & music orated by Late Shri.Birendra Krishna Bhadra. All India Radio has been broadcasting this program since early 1930s . Count down of Indian festival of Durga Puja starts from the day of Mahalaya.

During last couple of years following AIR channels were noted carrying special Mahalaya transmission :

SW

4760 - Port Blair
4820 - Kolkata
4835 - Gangtok
4880 - Lucknow
4895 - Kurseong
4940 - Guwahati
4965 - Shimla

MW

603 - Ajmer
621 - Patna A
648 - Indore A
657 - Kolkata A
666 - New Delhi B
675 - Chattarpur
711 - Siliguri
729 - Guwahati A
747 - Lucknow A
756 - Jagdalpur
774 - Shimla
801 - Jabalpur
810 - Rajkot A
819 - New Delhi A
846 - Ahmedabad A
909 - Gorakhpur
918 - Suratgarh
954 - Nazibabad
981 - Raipur
1008 - Kolkata B
1026 - Allahabad A
1044 - Mumbai A
1125 - Tezpur
1179 - Rewa
1242 - Varanasi
1260 - Ambikapur
1314 - Bhuj
1386 - Gwalior
1395 - Bikaner
1404 - Gangtok
1476 - Jaipur A
1584 - Mathura
1593 - Bhopal A

Private FM channel Big FM also carried this special txn on 92.7 MHz during 2009.

Related links :

Mahalaya: Invoking the Mother Goddess
A Once-a-Year Popular Radio Program
http://hinduism.about.com/cs/audiomusic/a/aa092003a.htm

Mahalaya - Birendrakrishna Bhadra
http://calcuttaglobalchat.net/calcuttablog/mahalaya/

Mahalaya - Audio & Video
http://www.durgapuja-images.com/2008/09/mahalaya-listen-download-online-watch.html

Radio signals confuse fishermen at sea

18 July 2011
rajib chatterjee
KOLKATA, 18 JULY: The state government has requested All India Radio (AIR) to undertake a survey to examine the transmission capacity of Kolkata-A-Channel, after reports that fishermen in the Bay of Bengal on the Indian side are receiving signals from a Bangladesh radio instead of the AIR.

Read the full story here :
http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=377002&catid=73

(Thanks to Sudipta Ghose, Kolkata for the link)

History of AIR Kolkata

Interesting blog entry on anniversary & history of AIR Kolkata (in Hindi)

http://yeakashvanihai.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post_27.html

FM Logs from Kolkata

The following FM stations loggings are with my Degen DE1121 Receiver with built-in telescopic antenna.

DATE - TIME(UTC)- FREQ(MHz) - STATION - PROGRAME HEARD- SINPO

26-1-2010 -0330-88.0 - Radio Foorti(Dhaka) - Bengali song- 34333
26-1-2010 -0333-88.4 - Aamar FM(Dhaka)- Talk in Beng by YL - 33333
26-1-2010 -0338-88.7 - ? Unid - Hindi song "Mera Moula"- 33333
26-1-2010 -0341- 89.6-Radio Today(Dhaka)-Good Mor Dhaka Beng - 33333
26-1-2010 -0343-90.8 -Jadavpur University - Test trial transmission - 33333
26-1-2010 -0345-91.9 - Friends FM (Kolkata)- song "I love my India" - 55555
26-1-2010 -0348-92.7 - Big FM (Kolkata) - HDFC home loan ad -55555
26-1-2010 -0349-93.5 - Red FM (Kolkata) - IDEA phone ad -55555
26-1-2010 -0350-94.3 - Radio One (Kolkata) - Hindi tune -45444
26-1-2010 -0352-97.0 - AIR Kolkata Republic Day programme - 33333
26-1-2010 -0354 -98.3- Radio Mirchi (Kolkata) - Talk in Beng by YL - 55555
26-1-2010 -0355 -100.2 -AIR Kolkata - Republic Day Prog - 44444
26-1-2010 -0356 -102.7 -AIR Kolkata - Republic Day Prog - 32322
26-1-2010 -0358 -103.0 -AIR Kolkata - Cricket Commentary - 33333
26-1-2010 -0400 -104.0 -Fever 104 FM (Kolkata) - Beng song -55555
26-1-2010 -0402 -104.8 -Radio Meow (Kolkata) - Hindi song -54544
26-1-2010 -0404 -105.4 -Gyan Vani (Kolkata) - Beng talk by YL & OM - 44444
26-1-2010 -0406 -106.2 -Aamar FM(Kolkata)-R. Chowdhury Ad- 55555
26-1-2010 -0407 -107.0 -AIR Kolkata - Hindi - 44444
26-1-2010 -0409 -107.8 -Power FM (Kolkata) - Beng song -55555

( Babul Gupta, Kolkata via bangladx yg)

AIR Special broadcasts on Independence Day - 15 Aug 2009

All India Radio will broadcast running commentary of Flag Hoisting Ceremony to be held at Red Fort, New Delhi between 0135-0240 UTC on 15th August 2008 as per the details given below:

0135-0240 UTC Hindi

6030 (Kingsway), 6155 (Khampur), 9595 (Khampur), 11620 (Aligarh), 15135 (Kingsway)

0135-0240 UTC English

4860 (Kingsway), 11830 (Kingsway), 13620(Bangalore), 15050(Khampur)

The regional shortwave transmitters will start earlier than usual on the 7 / 6 MHz frequencies providing unusual reception.:

The schedule is as follows:

BHOPAL

0025-0115 UTC 4810

0130-0448 UTC 7430

CHENNAI

0015-0115 UTC 4920

0130-0415 UTC 7380

HYDERABAD

0020-0115 UTC 4800

0130-0430 UTC 7420

IMPHAL

0030-0115 UTC 4775

0130-0400 UTC 7335

KOLKATA

0025-0115 UTC 4820

0130-0400 UTC 7210

PORT BLAIR

0000-0115 UTC 4760

0130-0400 UTC 7390

SHIMLA

0025-0400 UTC 6020

SRINAGAR

0025-0500 UTC 6110

THIRUVANTHAPURAM

0020-0115 UTC 5010

0130-0400 UTC 7290

Reception reports on the above broadcast should be sent to : Spectrum Management & Synergy Division, All India Radio, New Delhi,India

by email at : spectrum-manager@air.org.in

With Independence Day Greetings!

73

Jose Jacob, VU2JOS

National Institute of Amateur Radio

Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India

Telefax: 91-40-2331 0287 Cell:94416 96043

www.qsl.net/vu2joswww.niar.org

(Jose Jacob via dx_india yg)

Cyclone Aila silences most of AIR Kolkata

Kolkata A 657 and Kolkata B 1008 were silenced by Cyclone Aila on 25.05.09 afternoon local time . This morning they did not sign on at 0025 UTC. Kolkata A 657 kHz started airing fillers of continuous Shehnai music from 0200 UTC. The regular local news in Bangla which starts at 0200 UTC abruptly appeared at 0208 UTC. The news briefly mentioned that except FM all other services of AIR were affected. Kolkata B 1008 kHz is still off the air. I have been logging Vividh Bharati 1323 kHz as usual. No sign of any signal on 594 kHz Chinsurah which was in directline of the storm.

Tropical Cyclone Aila which passed by Kolkata at 100 kmph speed winds on 25.5.09 at around 0930 utc silenced all the services of All India Radio Kolkata except its FM service.On 26.5.09 Vividh Bharati on 1323 kHz was the first to start. Kolkata A 657 kHz which signs on morning at 0025 UTC came on air only at 0200. Kolkata B 1008 kHz and External Service with Nepali 0130-0230 on 594 kHz (Mogra 1000kHz) were silent. Kolkata on 4820 kHz could not be logged in the morning transmission 0025 - 0220 UTC. AIR did not make any announcement on air about its disruption in services. There was only a cursory mention in the local news bulletin.There was no sign of AIR this morning 26.5.09 on 4820 kHz from 0025-0220 kHz. No signal either on 7210 kHz which is due to sign on at 0230 UTC. AIR announcements made no mention of this disruption.

(Dr.Supratik Sanatani, Kolkata )

AIR Kolkata again on wrong frequency 7200 kHz

AIR Kolkata noted today 30 Apr 09 from 0230 UTC on 7200 kHZ instead of 7210 kHz . On 17th Apr 09 also they were noted on 7200. The sked on this frequency is 0230-0401v UTC (Sat,Sun 0501 UTC ), 0700-1000 UTC (Sun 1030 UTC)

Jose Jacob, VU2JOS
Camp: Cuttack, Orissa

(Via dx_india Yg)

All India Radio, Kolkata - Unofficial website

Came across this unofficial website of All India Radio, Kolkata.

http://www.freewebs.com/airkolkata/

Kudos to Ranjan Mitra for painstakingly compiling all these info's, specially the photo of AIR buliding at Garstin Place which I beleive no longer exists. Great effort !

The components of the first txer used for Calcutta stationare now kept at 'National Science Centre,NewDelhi'.

Photo's can be seen here :

http://www.geocities.com/alokesh05/airnostalgia.html