NEW DELHI: All India Radio covers about 99.2 per cent of the total population of the country and the national average number of listeners of AIR on a specific day is 460 Million as estimated on the basis of the Radio Audience Survey of AIR.

According to the figures presented in the Rajya Sabha earlier this week by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, sample surveys conducted from 2011 till 2014 for various channels showed that the number of listeners was 142 million. These channels included Primary channel, Vividh Bharati, AIR FM Rainbow and AIR FM Gold in various states and union territories.

He said AIR broadcasting stations are functional at 413 locations throughout the country. In addition to this, 243 Private FM Radio Stations are functioning in the country at present.

Emphasis is also being laid on the expansion of FM Transmission. This would ensure superior stereophonic sound and would also make available old Medium Wave programmes on FM mode. The programmes would become available for wider reception, even over hand held mobile sets.

The FM Phase-III policy envisages the extension of private FM Radio services to about 227 new cities in addition to the present 86 cities. 839 new FM radio channels are to be auctioned in 294 cities under the Policy to increase the audience.