MUMBAI: European Broadcasting Union (EBU) president Raina Konstantinova has claimed that radio continues to attract `ever-increasing numbers of listeners throughout Europe and the world`.

In a Berline interview, the EBU boss said that there were 95 million people who listen to the radio almost three hours a day. She insisted far from dying, radio listenership is increasing. Impressed by the sheer number of radio, TV and internet productions entered for the 21st Prix Europa event in the German capital Oct 13-20, Konstantinova spoke of radio`s achievement in managing to `reinvent itself` in the digital age. Internet was a natural ally of the radio, she said, and had helped it gain new media platforms. `You work on your PC and you listen to the radio; you also have the radio on your mobile and listen to radio on digital,` she said. Konstantinova claimed radio traditionally depended on the spoken word and music, two elements that were `important for intelligent, thinking people.` Statistically and realistically, radio was doing better and better, she argued, ridiculing rumours of a few years back that it was `a dying industry.` In a message sent to Berlin, Hans-Gert Pottering, the president of the European Parliament, spoke of Prix Europa becoming the continent`s most `integrative television, radio and internet festival` in the past two decades, and proving an important link for Europe`s media culture. Programmes in the Berlin festival cover a bewildering range of themes. Among them are entries about climate change, recycling and terrorism.The Prix Europa organizers say by staging the Berlin event they hope to promote the trademark - made in Europe - and to reflect the complete spectrum of European productions, as well as being a forum for `quality` programmes.