DNA Special: Unchecked signals: Pak radio waves ‘invade’ Pb
As many as six Pakistani radio channels enjoy massive popularity in India’s Punjab, an internal government note has revealed. The channels have clear signals and attractive Punjabi programmes, interspersed with Bollywood and Punjabi music, increasing their mass appeal.
On the other hand, the All India Radio (AIR) channels do not enjoy such penetration in Pakistan.
The note, prepared by an AIR team and sent recently to top officials of Prasar Bharati and other government bodies, was based on an inspection carried out by the team across the country’s International Border (IB) with Pakistan, during a visit to Punjab’s Amritsar and Jalandhar last month.
The channels mentioned in the note were Radio Awaz, FM 100, Mast FM, FM Chaupal, Summer FM, and FM 101 of Radio Pakistan.
The note stated that these radio channels broadcast Bollywood and Punjabi music programmes, which get a tremendous response from Indian listeners, who even send feedback and requests through phone calls and messages. It added that the channels gave an impression that they were being broadcast from India.
Sources across AIR stations in Punjab said that on the other hand, some private FM channels from Amritsar do have a listenership in Pakistan but the AIR has very little presence on …read more