For the past few days, some new radio channel has been testing out the airwaves in Chennai. They broadcast for a few hours, in the late afternoon and early evening; you can tune in to 106.4 FM. As of now, there are only songs, no announcements, let alone advertisements. So, I have no idea about the channel’s name.
The Hindu reports that another radio channel is launching in Chennai next week. The name is BIG, and it comes from the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group. BIG will be beamed on 92.7 MHz. This pushes up the number of commercial FM channels in the city to seven.
- Suriyan FM (Sun Network) – 93.5
- Radio Mirchi (Times Network) – 98.3
- FM Gold (Chennai Radio) – 105.0
- Radio City (STAR India) – 105.8
- FM Rainbow (Chennai Radio) – 107.1
- Unknown – 106.4
- BIG – 92.7
There are two other FM radio stations, run by Anna University (Anna FM – 90.4) and MOP Vaishnav College (MOP FM – 91.2); these come under the Community Radio category.
I feel it would be better if the new channels provide some variety, instead of crowding out the airwaves with more of the same type as is being served by the existing providers.
Updates
BIG FM is launching on Monday the 25th (today) in Hyderabad. The Chennai station is up, but it is not playing any songs as yet. Actress Asin is the brand ambassador for the channel in the South. In the near future, 20 cities from the North, 7 from the East and 9 each from the South and the West can tune in to 92.7.
106.4 FM has no name still. I’m temporarily naming it as Boys FM, because whenever I tune in, the station is playing the soundtrack from the movie Boys.
No related posts.
Short posts are good. Try to increase the frequency.
As a regular listener, i totally agree with you.. Today as i was driving home, i switched channels and found the same song (kozhi from enakum unakum) running on 3 out of 4 channels!
Unknown Station becomes NEW FM today; The whole day SoundTracks from the SJ Surya flick NEW were played over again and again!!!
Its official, the unknown station is Hello FM.. Yet another crappy addition to Chennai airwaves..
Hello FM is from Malar Publications which publishes Thina Thanthi. Sivanthi Adithan’s son is the guy behind it.
How things move and how time flies. When I lived in Channai for 1 year in 1996 I struggled to find any good radio channels to entertain myself. If you post is anything to go by, now I would be spoilt for choice!!
hello fm is really good. Maya’s dairy is ok to some extent. Avasara kozhi is also doing good. Damn good are programs like palanguzhi, kamarkat etc.
All Private FM stations air a stero-typed content/presentation.
I only wonder why all these stations forget to have the
following innovative contents:
1. Radio Serials (could easily be a hit among women audience.
2. Condensed Films.
3. Carnatic music
4. Full length interviews(without mixing it with songs)
5. Quiz competions.
I still remember that all the above where regular contents
of our AIR Medium Wave, till 80′s.
I feel only AIR still retains most of the above contents.
Hence my vote is only for AIR and not for these much hyped
private fm cbanels, which eyes only a sect, i.e the youth
All Private FM stations air a stero-typed content/presentation.
I only wonder why all these stations forget to have the
following innovative contents:
1. Radio Serials (could easily be a hit among women audience.
2. Condensed Films.
3. Carnatic music
4. Full length interviews(without mixing it with songs)
5. Quiz competions.
I still remember that all the above where regular contents
of our AIR Medium Wave, till 80′s.
I feel only AIR still retains most of the above contents.
Hence my vote is only for AIR and not for these much hyped
private fm channels, which eyes only a particular
target audience, i.e the youth segment.