In a Smartphone era, who needs or listen to the radio? A valid rhetorical question, the answer, au contraire, is ‘a lot,’ melodiously defying popular perception that radio has lost its relevance in the modern milieu of technological progress. In Nagaland, FM Tragopan under the All India Radio (AIR) Station Kohima launched last year on October 2 with the tagline, ‘Music, News and Entertainment,’ is joining the bandwagon and negating the claim that 'radio is a dead medium.' Within a span of a year, it is reaching out to a bigger audience beyond the State with listeners from neighbouring states as well as those tuning in even from places as far as Goa, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.
The station receives over 400 messages on a daily basis from local listeners and audience from outside as well, an official informed on FM Tragopan‘s first-anniversary celebration on October 9. The name itself is derived from the State bird, ‘Blythe Tragopan,’ an equally ‘endangered species’ like the radio, and spreading the message of their ‘conservation.’
Since the mid-20th century, the transistor radio changed the medium of communication, serving not only as a cheap source of news, information and undiluted entertainment. Apart from this, it remained a steadfast means of communication for emergency services and many more.
Technology has since taken a giant leap. Take the instance of the popular medium of music entertainment. From Walkman to Discman to iPod and to the emergence of Smartphone, the traditional broadcast radio’s status has literally ‘gone out of tune’ as the most important vehicle for reaching the masses. The effervescent late Freddie Mercury of British rock band Queen lamented its declining popularity vis-a-vis other platforms in one of the band’s anthem hits, “Radio Gaga.”
However, radio has evolved and adapted well with time, satisfying the purist and adding new fans along the way. The ‘ruler of shortwave radio’ and the world's largest international broadcaster, the BBC World Service, has seamlessly migrated successfully from analogue and digital, to internet streaming, connecting with new listeners, while retaining the old. In cities across India, the introduction frequency modulation (FM) technology has vitalised radio broadcasting.
Despite limited introduction, a wide-coverage medium in Nagaland was realised only with the introduction of FM Tragopan. While, mobile penetration is high in Nagaland, coverage in many places is at best erratic or absent. To this end, FM relay stations installed in different locations, provide the vital communication links by disseminating news and information, along with general entertainment with the widest coverage. National, regional and local news relayed and produced by AIR Kohima, and broadcasted through FM Tragopan in 16 languages along with other programmes, act as the vital connector. The ‘Bosti Manohar Karne,’ live interactions and shows on various issues, entertain as well as create awareness. A local music show and a recent interactive programme hosting popular Naga artists, connect with the popular culture of the state.
The Radio Jockeys, the backbones of the FM, are also connecting affectionately with the listeners, as one can infer from messages read out during various broadcasts. As a self-supporting transmission, avenues for revenue generation are also being experimented and explored.
Notwithstanding the positive outcome, it still needs a lot of improvement, which hopefully will be rectified along the way. Adaption to technology will be the only way to survive and avenues for more platforms must be sought on this apart from DTH medium. It is surprising that despite individual efforts and text messaging, it is absent on other social media platforms to connect with listeners. News capsule and podcasting will generate more interest and secondary audience.
While logistical issues might be one of the reasons for relaying FM Rainbow during the daytime, efforts must be made for locally generated contents for the whole duration of the broadcast.
Is radio relevant? It still is. And the FM Tragopan can be a pioneer to bring back the essence of mass communication by reaching, informing and connecting listeners of different era and technology.
