Hyderabad: Community radio is big hit in the city. Hyderabad Central University’s Bol Hyderabad, Deccan Radio and Hamara of Radio Charminar are receiving good response.
Over 40-50 per cent of the channel content is community based and listeners consider it to be not only entertainment but infotainment as well. Also, special programs on women’s empowerment, various profession tips and home science attract the urban crowd, especially corporate employees who sometimes spend four hours a day just travelling.
Mr. A. Samad, programming head of Radio Charminar said, "Community radios were mainly established to cater to the rural population, to help listeners (especially farmers) with agricultural practices, health issues, government schemes and to create a platform for folk singers. Later it was extended to urban areas by educational institutes and some non profit organizations that are into social causes.
Community radio licenses are given only to trusts or NGOs and not to private individuals. The motive behind community radio is to serve the community through social programs like women empowerment, career opportunities, basic information on RTI and legal issues."
These channels are not monitored unlike commercial channels and thus they do not have a count of listeners. Commercial channels are monitored by a private agency. However, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry checks whether these radios are operating as per the norms. They are also permitted to run eight hours of music programs. "Whenever we have a guest speaker, we call in and ask questions, There is no schedule for the programmes," said an HCU student.
Deccan Radio runs for two-three hours and Radio Charminar from 8am to 8pm every day. Mr Jamal Shariff of Riasatnagar said, "There are four commercial radio stations which play mostly Telugu music. With community radio we get to hear information and Hindi film music. It serves both as entertainment plus infotainment. We Urdu speakers tune into the station as the experts and radio jockeys speak in Urdu and Hindi."
Mr Aliza Kounain, a regular caller to Radio Charminar, said, "I tune in for home science and health issues. I also request them to play old Hindi film songs." The call frequency is 200 per day, mostly from students and women. Many listeners call in to speak to doctors, academicians and career experts featured on the shows.
Bol Hyderabad, broadcast by the students of Hyderabad Central University, runs for up to three hours depending on the students. Deccan Radio and Radio Charminar are run by private education societies in the city.
Radio for all
Many listeners consider it to be not only entertainment but also infotainment as well.
These stations are accessible on FM radio, with each channel having it own frequency.
- Radio Charminar: 107.8 FM; 10-km radius
- Bol Hyderabad: 90.4 FM; 10-km radius
- Deccan Radio: 107.8 FM, 3-4 km radius
Two more community radio stations have been issued licenses but have not gone on air till date.
