Radio Asia to operate two new 24-hour stations

Radio Asia has entered into an agreement with the Ras Al Khaimah Radio and TV Authority to operate two new 24-hour FM and AM radio stations. The agreement was signed by Sheikh Saqr bin Abdullah bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Deputy Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Radio and TV Authority, and Ismail Hukkawala, Group Finance Director of the Dolphin Group.

After four years of operation, the expansion programme will allow Radio Asia to provide its listeners with more choice and entertainment.

The programming for the new stations will cater to all segments, age groups and nationalities of the subcontinent, and will be fresh, innovative and of high quality. "We expect our new service to be on the air within six months," Hukkawala said.

"Along with our existing programmes, our new programming will cater to a much wider section of the subcontinent population. "The AM channel will concentrate mainly on Malayalam programmes, along with inputs from other languages such as Tamil, Urdu, Hindi and Pushto. The FM channel will air Hindi programmes," he said.

The FM signal will cover the UAE, and the rest of the Gulf will be covered by the AM channel.
"We will continue with our policy of introducing new concepts and offer the best in entertainment and informative programmes," Operations Manager Brij Bhalla said.

"We have taken steps to introduce the latest facilities in the modern broadcasting world. And to meet the ever-increasing demands for quality programming, we have decided to introduce this new 24-hour service."

Launched in Ras Al Khaimah in 1992, Radio Asia was the first Malayalam radio station in the Gulf. Previously known as Radio Ras Al Khaimah, it was taken over by the Dolphin Group. Prior to its re-launch as Radio Asia, it was given a powerful boost by replacing the 20-kilowatt transmitter with 200 kilowatts, making it the most powerful Asia Radio broadcasting station in the Middle East.