Click to play videoThrissur: Households in Kerala have discovered a new craze: FM radio. While for city dwellers in other parts of the country, this might seem passe, it's a novelty in God's own country.
“The new FM channel is certainly becoming a part of our daily life, especially in the morning when we are in a hurry there is no time for TV or even for news paper. It’s here that FM helps,” says a resident, Safrunissa.
For many Safrunissa and like her sister, time spent at home has never been so enjoyable.
For the first time, cities like Kozhikode and Thrissur have several new FM station and Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi will soon follow suit.
Leading the way are big media houses like Malayala Manorama, Mathurbhoomi Sun Network and Asianet.
“Kerala has already been allotted 16 licenses for private FM channels. This gives big media houses a chance to expand their scope so that they can give an intimate touch to their already existing audience,” says Creative director, Radio Mango 91.9, Arjun Madhusudan.
Also surfing the FM wave are enterprising shopkeepers, who are selling FM receivers by the dozen. They cost as low as Rs 60 apiece, making them affordable for everyone.
“FM radio is cheaper than a CD player to fix in the auto. Moreover you get to hear a number of new hits. Especially when we are drving all through the day, the presence of the FM radio helps a lot. It makes work enjoyable,” says auto driver, Rajan.
Kerala witnessed a cable TV boom in the late 90s and the FM phenomenon has certainly opening another chapter in the history of the state’s telecom.
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