Radio starts regaining popularity

Rajamahendravaram: Radio is coming back into the people slowly to regain its past glory. Those who were accustomed to witness various programmes in the television and other information from the social media such as Facebook, Twitter, etc are now showing interest in listening to radio programmes.

Three decades ago, the radio was the only medium to hear news, songs and any information. People mainly used to sit at one place to hear the news etc. Speaking to 'The Hans India' here on Sunday, V Madhu, popularly known as Meher Madhu said that the radio had its glory between 1970 and 1990 on a massive scale.

Later, because of the emergence of TVs, the downfall of radio commenced on a large scale from the year 1995, he lamented. He said that in those days, nearly 5,000 radios used to be sold from the shop brands such as Philips, Bush, Murphy and Nelco etc. Now Philips is only in existence. He is selling radios in twin Godavari districts which became a passion for him for the last 25 years.

Now, people were showing more interest in radios because of two FM radio stations in the city which are giving a variety of programme from dawn to dusk. Moreover, FM radio programmes can hear up to a stretch of 40 km.

For areas more than that radius, the listeners can hear by using aerial. TV band also introduced in the radios to hear Doordarshan programmes also along with existing medium wave, shortwave and FM, he added. If All India Radio stations at Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam escalates their signal capacity the programmes in radios can be heard more crystal clearly.

Moreover, the Union government also directed to all primary schools to provide radios for hearing the programmes of University Grants Commission (UGC). Many people are purchasing radios now mainly from rural folk because of FM stations and TV band etc. However, Vividha Bharathi and Ceylon programmes are not broadcast in the radios.

The cost of Philips radio is in between Rs 900 and Rs 1,800 with two and three battery facility in various models with three and four band facilities. Now between 200 and 300 radios are selling, he added.