How do you open a radio station?

How to start an FM Radio station in Andhra Pradesh, India.?

• Hi, Setting up a radio station is my dream. I don't even know the abcs of it. I want it to broadcast in a small city called Nellore in the state of andhra pradesh in India. The coverage area should not be more than a 10-12 km radius. Could you enlighten me about the following areas please: 1) The Budget for setting up an FM Radio Station/Internet Radio Station 2) How do we choose a frequency? 3) Playing songs - do we need any permissions from the song owners/companies, if yes, how do we get them? 4) What kind of equipment should we be using, and where can we get them? 5) Will it cost me less if i broadcast only 12 hrs per day? 6) Should we get any permissions from the government?

• Answer:

  1. If you wish to open a FM station similar to other FM channels, the budget is more than Rs. 10 crores in India. If you want to open an internet radio channel its much less. For a global standard internet radio channel, you will need a minimum of Rs. 50 lakhs. But at a budget, even at Rs. 10,000 you can start your own radio channel. 2. You do not choose the frequency. The Government of India chooses it for you. Specifically, Wireless Planning & Coordination Wing, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Department of Telecommunications chooses it for you. For more details please visit the following link: http://www.wpc.dot.gov.in/ 3. For any copyrighted audio content, you need to pay royalty. How to pay, radio consultants / media agencies will let you know. For any uncopyrighted or not any more copyrighted audio content, its free. Also, if you have copyright of any audio content, you can also broadcast them at your will. 4. The kind of radio equipment that you will need depends upon what kind (radio station / internet station), size and paid / free station you are going to launch. 5. It will cost you less by broadcasting only 12 hrs a day, only if you are broadcasting copyrighted audio content; because you will only be paying less royalty. 6. For any wireless communication activity in India, you need permission from the Government of India; or else you will be penalized or even jailed. For only personal communication and that too limited i.e. upto 500 metres of coverage, like communication between friends in remote areas with walky-talky or cordless phones, you do not need any permission. To start with you can be a HAM radio enthusiast and a radio operator. In short HAM radio is device which helps you to listen to the other HAM broadcasts, globally, and also let other HAM enthusiasts listen to your HAM radio station. And the best thing about HAM radio is its cheap. You just need to clear some examinations which any radio enthusiast like you can easily pass and a HAM radio. Other good things about HAM radio is that the frequency that you get is international i.e., you can broadcast for anyone around the world. Moreover, when wireless frequencies fail, this is the only frequency which never fails. That is why this frequency is also used in emergency like wars. I am giving some links which will give you all the details that you need about HAM radio. HAM Radio India: http://www.hamradioindia.org/amateur_radio/ For HAM radio equipment: 1. http://www.icomamerica.com/en/amateur/default.aspx 2. http://www.alinco.com/usa.html 3. http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Communications/Amateur_Radio/ For permission, licence and examination from the Government of India http://www.wpc.dot.gov.in/exam_amatr.asp For more general information: 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_in_India 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_Station_Operator's_Certificate