AIR FM Rainbow is a group of FM radio channels across India. The group of stations was previously called FM Metro, but the name was changed to FM Rainbow in 2002. The group is run by All India Radio, or AIR, a government owned enterprise. It features Hindi and regional language songs, while also playing English music and providing hourly news in English, regional language and/or Hindi. In Bhopal, FM Rainbow broadcasts in Hindi to more than 12 districts of Madhya Pradesh and 21 Bhopal City suburbs. AIR FM Rainbow Delhi airs in as many as ten cities, more than any of the other FM Rainbow frequencies. Mumbai, Lucknow, Vizag,Chennai, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Kochi and Bangalore all receive FM Rainbow transmissions on a variety of frequencies.
Rainbow stations are widely accessible due not only to their strong FM signals that carry transmissions to numerous villages in addition to urban areas, but also to FM Rainbow's commitment to providing diverse programming. Rainbow FM stations plays ghazals, soundtracks, and a variety of programs featuring Western music, both popular music and classical music. Some such programs are "Time Out," "Take Off," "Footloose," and "Wicked Hour." FM Rainbow's variety of programming is unique for an Indian radio station, yet almost all the disc jockeys (locally known as "radio jockeys," or RJs) on private Indian FM stations got their start at FM Rainbow. Programming is provided on a rotating schedule, accessible from the All India Radio website, along with the frequencies available in different regions. FM Rainbow channels are also available to tune in from Prasar Bharati DTH channels across the country for listeners outside the bandwidth.
History
AIR launched the FM Rainbow channel on 01.02.1993. This was a channel to cater primarily to the young listener on the move. The Radio Jockey (RJ) replaced the Announcer. The presentation style became fast-paced and informal to suit the changing listener profile. The vibrant programming and quality reception caught the imagination of the youngsters and allured them to come closer to their radio. In its round the clock broadcast, radio listeners were served with a varied menu of new formats of entertainment. Now Air RAINBOW served with a varied menu of new formats of entertainment.
At present AIR has 206 FM transmitters across the country, by which it covers 24.94% of the area and 36.81% of the population of the country. FM Rainbow is originated from 17 centers, at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore-Kannada Kamanabilu, Lucknow, Panaji, Jalandhar, Cuttack, Kodaikanal, Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore, Vishakhapatnam, Puducherry, Vijayawada, Goa and Tirunelveli. AIR Delhi Rainbow is relayed fully from Mussorie, Kanpur, Aligarh, Kasauli, Kurseong, Leh, Aurangabad, Kochi and Shillong (Akashvani FM Jong Phi) and partly from Hyderabad, Bhadrava, Poonch, Rajauri, Naushera, RK Srinagar, RK Jammu, Jhansi, Dharamshala, and Bhatinda. The programming of FM Rainbow includes Pop music, Film songs, Classical & Devotional music, News Headlines, informal chat shows, phone-in programmes etc. AIR FM Rainbow commands an impressive listening and holds its own among private FM Channels.
+ AIR FM RAINBOW Stations/Relay CentresCityState/UTFrequency (MHz) Aligarh Uttar Pradesh 101.3 Aurangabad Bihar 102.4 Bathinda Punjab 101.1 Bengaluru Karnataka 101.3 Bhaderwah Jammu and Kashmir 101.0 Chennai Tamil Nadu 101.4 Coimbatore Tamil Nadu 103.0 Cuttack Odisha 101.3 Delhi Delhi 102.6 Dharamshala Himachal Pradesh 103.4 Hyderabad Telangana 101.9 Jalandhar Punjab 102.7 Jammu Jammu and Kashmir 100.3 Jhansi Uttar Pradesh 103.0 Kanpur Uttar Pradesh 102.2 Kasauli Himachal Pradesh 107.2 Kochi Kerala 107.5 Kodaikanal Tamil Nadu 100.5 Kolkata West Bengal 107.0 Kurseong West Bengal 102.3 Leh Ladakh 1053 kHz Lucknow Uttar Pradesh 100.7 Mumbai Maharashtra 107.1 Mussoorie Uttarakhand 102.1 Nowshera Jammu and Kashmir 1089 kHz Panaji Goa 105.4 Poonch Jammu and Kashmir 100.7 Rajouri Jammu and Kashmir 101.9 Shillong* Meghalaya 103.6 Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir 102.6 Tiruchirapalli Tamil Nadu 102.1 Vijayawada Andhra Pradesh 102.2 Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh 102.0
*Since Saturday, the 2nd of October, 2010, Akashvani FM Rainbow Shillong, which relays to Akashvani FM Rainbow Delhi, became Akashvani FM Jong Phi and is a full fledged radio station, broadcasting its own programmes since that date.
The channel currently also runs in top 25 countries which includes European countries France, Switzerland, Finland, Netherlands and Germany, neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to West Asian countries Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman.
News bulletins on FM ‘Rainbow’ channel
The News Services Division is putting out news headlines on FM ‘Rainbow’ channel from Delhi from 28 May 1995. Twenty four news headline bulletins on FM ‘Rainbow’ are broadcast round-the-clock from Delhi. The duration of each headline FM ‘Rainbow’ bulletin from Delhi is one minute approx. At present 22 AIR stations are broadcasting FM Headlines.
FM Rainbow India
AIR FM Rainbow India was formerly known as AIR FM Rainbow Delhi. It was rebranded with new look targeting audience of not only Delhi but also entire India. It also changed its programming pattern & presentation also.
Main genres of programmes are Bollywood music and Western music. It airs total 4 hours of Western music. Besides this it airs Music shows, Request shows, Interviews & Information programmes in Hindi with Filmi Music. AIR FM Rainbow India Headlines are broadcast every hour at starting of programme according to its language i.e. Hindi or English.
After rebranded as AIR FM Rainbow India, it started a new programme called Good Morning India which airs at 07:00 am to 09:00 am. It includes News, Interviews, Health, Programme Summary with upbeat Filmi Music targeting all Indian audiences.
Programmes Hindi Good Morning India 7:00am(tue) RJs Satya and Chitra Hotline 10:00am Bollywood trails 11:00am(mon-sat) rj nikhil barma Aashiyana 1:00pm(tue)RJ Tapasaya On Air Mehmaan rj santosh rao 10am Bindass Bol (Friday)3:00pm rj priti mohan Helpline(mon-fri) rj bharti dang 3.00pm rajshree trivedi Parwaaz Hai Kaam Tera 4:00pm Citylights 5:00pm Message Masala Mix 7:00pm (sun-thurs)RJ Sujata Party time 8:00pm Aradhana
English Play It Cool Matchless Music Hour Breakfree
References
External links All India Radio's official site