PANJIM: In a blow to radio listeners and music-lovers across Goa, All India Radio-Panjim has received orders to transmit all programmes from their Primary Channel ‘Mhadei’ (1287 kHz Medium Wave (MW)) on FM Rainbow (105.4 MHz). FM Rainbow has long been Goa’s premier music and entertainment radio channel, captivating listeners for nearly three decades. The merger is set to take effect in October, a move attributed to Prasar Bharati’s broader plan to phase out MW transmission across the country due to poor listenership.
This directive follows similar mergers in AIR Bengaluru and Kolkata, where Kannada and Bengali entertainment programmes on their respective FM Rainbow channels were halted, replaced by educational and ‘content-driven’ programming from their Primary MW channels back in July. In those States, the decision to cancel iconic FM Rainbow shows triggered public outrage, with concerns that it concealed an agenda to privatise public service radio channels under the guise of nationalisation.
FM Rainbow in Goa is renowned for its diverse musical entertainment, offering everything from live concerts to Konkani and English classics. The channel boasts approximately six hours of English programming, including talk shows and interactive call-in segments. Thanks to its mobile app, FM Rainbow has also become a favourite among the Goan diaspora, who actively engage with the radio station by making song requests, dedicating music to loved ones, or simply relishing the nostalgic connection to their homeland.
“I do not understand the reasoning behind this move or why Prasar Bharati wants to diminish a well-established brand like FM Rainbow. It would make more sense to merge Mhadei channel programmes with the other FM channel Vividh Bharati (101.1 MHz). By eliminating the English and urban audience programming on Rainbow, AIR risks losing its target audience across both channels,” said a veteran AIR staffer who wished to remain anonymous. The Mhadei channel primarily caters to a rural audience, offering children’s content and educational programmes for farmers.
Sunil Bhatia, Director of AIR-Panjim said, “We are not planning to shut down the Mhadei channel or MW transmission; they will continue. It’s just that a few programmes aired on Mhadei will also be broadcast on FM Rainbow”.
“We’ve observed a decline in MW listenership while FM is readily available in every car and on every phone. As times change, technology evolves, and we need to adapt,” explained Sunil Bhatia, Director of AIR-Panjim. He added, “Regarding programming cuts on FM Rainbow, those discussions are yet to take place.”
Sanjay Punalekar, Head of Programming for AIR Panjim, affirmed their efforts to preserve existing programmes. “We are striving to avoid any cuts and aim to accommodate content from both channels. Yes, we have received the order to merge programming; it’s a policy decision,” he confirmed. A meeting scheduled this Friday is expected to shed light on which Rainbow programmes will be axed.
Former AIR presenter Bambino Dias, speaking to O Heraldo from Germany, said, “It’s really unfortunate that they decided to merge Primary channel programming with Rainbow. I hope the entertainment/music segment of Rainbow remains at least 75% of what it was, and that the hours dedicated to Konkani and Western music remain unchanged.”
While Konkani and English presenters on both channels are anxious about potential job cuts and reduced duty hours, many claim that AIR has been intentionally neglected for years. “There has been a hiring freeze for decades. We started with 22 employees, who eventually retired or left, and we now operate the channel with just three staffers. Despite complaints about poor listenership and low revenue, nothing has been done to boost popularity. There isn’t even a marketing team in place. Initially, employees were asked to bring in advertisers and generate business for a commission, but they stopped paying the commission, and there was no longer an incentive to do so,” lamented another AIR employee.
“The collection of music at AIR Panjim is vast, with one-and-a-half rooms of LPs alone- records of music that even the original artistes or bands may not possess. How do we do justice to this collection,” questioned a former AIR presenter who worked at FM Rainbow for over two decades.
“FM Rainbow has its own charm, and a loyal base of listeners, who call in and tell us everything from what they cooked for lunch, to their dreams and aspirations. Our listeners from the UK, Australia and Canada view it as a connection to home. Listening to a Lorna song on the radio app while riding the tube to work on a cold winter’s day warms the heart, they tell me,” he added, wistfully.