AIR Full Form

AIR full form means All India Radio and is also known as Akashvani since 1956. It is the national public broadcaster of India and is under Prasar Bharati. It was headquartered in Delhi in the year 1936. 

It is considered the largest radio network in the world and the most comprehensive in terms of language broadcasts. It is comprised of 420 stations and reaches around 99% of the population. It generates programs in 23 languages in 179 dialects.

The station was initially started for domestic programs only, but after the Independence, it got involved in broadcasting to other countries. Its main target is to promote Indian culture abroad and inform people about facts related to India. There are also special programs for farmers, fishermen, women, and children.

The legacy of AIR is immense as it has been serving the people of India for more than seven decades now. It has evolved with the changing times and has adapted itself to the new technologies. With its vast reach, it has been able to connect with people from all walks of life and serve them in the best possible way. AIR is truly a gem in the Indian broadcasting industry, and it will continue to serve the country now and in the future too.

History of AIR

The first broadcast was started in 1923 with the help of two private stations, Radio Club of Bombay and Calcutta Radio Club. The first controller of broadcasting in India was Lionel Fielden, and he spent five years at the helm. 

The signature for AIR was composed by Walter Kaufmann, director of music at AIR. There were 6 radio stations at the time of Indian Independence. These were in Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Tiruchirapalli, and Lucknow. Sardar Vallavbhai Patel was the first minister of Information & Broadcasting in India.

In 1942, All India Radio was started with a station in Bombay, and the second station in Calcutta was inaugurated in the year 1944. After Independence, a new era of broadcasting began for AIR. In August 1955, it became an autonomous corporation, and from 1956 onwards, it was called Akashvani since then. On 1 April 1964, new frequencies began in Delhi on the medium wave band. On 1 April 1976, FM broadcasting was started with the Vividh Bharati Service.

The first television service of AIR was started in 1965, and later it became a part of Doordarshan (DD). In the year 1999, this portion of DD was given an independent identity as Prasar Bharati Corporation. AIR started satellite broadcasting in the year 1978 with the help of Apple Communication’s Satellite “Apple-1”. In 1984, it started digital audio broadcasting (DAB) services.

AIR has been using computer networking for collaborative projects since 1987. The Central Audio-Visual Archives (CAVA) was set up in 1992 with the objective to preserve radio and television recordings. In 1998, the All India Radio website was launched, and it started streaming audio in the year 2000. The first mobile app of AIR was released in 2010.

The Vividha Bharati service was launched in 1957 to broadcast popular movie songs. It was done to counter the popularity of Radio Ceylon. 

AIR has come a long way since its inception, and it will continue to serve the people of India in the best possible way. With its numerous technologies and latest equipment, it has been able to develop a cutting-edge broadcasting system. It will continue to adapt itself to the changing times and evolve with the time while bringing in innovative front ideas for its listeners.

The Vividha Bharati service was launched in 1957 to broadcast popular movie songs. It was done to counter the popularity of Radio Ceylon. 

Phenomenal Rise of AIR

Through the ’60s and up to the ’80s, AIR saw tremendous due to the absence of other forms of entertainment. During the 60’s India had nothing except the cinema and radio. Today, AIR has a phenomenal reach of 92%, with 415 dedicated channels broadcast in 23 languages.

The News Service Division of AIR peaches in around 647 bulletins daily for a total rise of 56 hours in about 90 dialects. AIR also operates around 18 FM channels called AIR FM Rainbow that target the urban audience with fresh content every day. 

Success and Future of AIR

As you all know, AIR stands for All India Radio and is a national broadcast division of Prasar Bharati owned by the Government of India. AIR has played a decisive role in reaching out to every corner of our vast country. AIR has registered its footprint even in places where newspapers have failed to reach. It has been a news aggregator and a social engineering tool to shape mass opinion in India. 

AIR is slowly adopting modern technology and is digitizing its entire content. It is also switching from Analog to Digital signaling in a phased manner. 

In India, news over the radio is not available to private players, and AIR is cashing in on this phenomenon. The entire radio story of India is shifting on a higher growth path, and despite the growing television presence and satellite penetration, the radio will continue to follow an unprecedented growth path.  

Interesting Facts About AIR

Let’s look at these five interesting facts about AIR:

1. Harmonium, a form of musical instrument, was banned on AIR between 1940-1971. The instrument was dubbed un-Indian and considered incapable of handling higher notes
2. Commercials were launched for the first time on 1 November 1967
3. Amitabh Bachchan was rejected by AIR for a job.
4. Doordarshan separated from AIR on 1 April 1976
5. In 2012, Bangladesh recognized Akashvani for its contribution to the war in 1971