Radio Mirchi
Encyclopedia
Radio Mirchi is a nationwide network of private FM radio stations in India
. It is owned by the Entertainment Network India Ltd
(ENIL), which is one of the subsidiaries of The Times Group
.
"Mirchi" is Hindi
for chili
. The tagline of Radio Mirchi is "It's hot!".
Radio Mirchi maintains weekly music charts (or record charts) for India. The most followed charts are Mirchi Top 20 (Bollywood Songs) and Angrezi Top 20 (English Songs). Both of these charts are a ranking of recorded music according to popularity. These charts are published on a weekly basis in the Indian English-language daily newspaper, The Times of India
, and on Radio Mirchi's official website.
. Until 1993, All India Radio
or AIR, a government undertaking, was the only radio broadcaster in India. The government then took the initiative to privatize the radio broadcasting sector. It sold airtime blocks on its FM channels in Indore
, Hyderabad, Mumbai
, Delhi
, Kolkata
, Vizag and Goa
to private operators, who developed their own program content. The Times Group operated its brand, Times FM, till June 1998.
After that, the government decided not to renew contracts given to private operators.
was the first city in India having grade of first private radio channel.Times decided to start radio channel to address the mass audience as advertisers can be attracted by showing a low cost per thousand.
It reaches out to almost 52% of FM radio listeners in Delhi 44% in Mumbai,40% in Indore,35% in Jaipur,30% in Bhopal,
20% Chennai, 17% in Kolkata, 15% in Nagpur,10% in Bangalore and 02% in Raipur. Radio Mirchi has started providing Visual Radio
to its subscribers in Delhi from 25 July, 2006 onwards and in Mumbai from September 2006. It also has started its Visual Radio service from Kolkata recently.
As per the Radio Audience Measurement Reports (RAM), Radio Mirchi has been dominating in Delhi & is the leader in Mumbai and Kolkata. However in Kolkata they are not clear leaders in SEC ABC segments. The SEC ABC segments were earlier dominated by Big FM & now by Friends FM. However in the SEC D & E segments Radio Mirchi has total domination.
Radio Mirchi Kolkata airs programs named "Hi Kolkata", "Nobboi Not Out", "Harano Sur","Kolkata Express", "coffe house Classics". they have talented Rjs named Mir,Deep,Neel,Riya And Shree.
RDS
In Mumbai
; Radio Mirchi sends Radio Text containing information about The Name of Channel, Next Song and Currently Playing song.
are annually given awards instituted by Radio Mirchy for excellence in Bollywood film music. It was first given in 2008.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is owned by the Entertainment Network India Ltd
ENIL
Entertainment Network India Limited is a subsidiary of Times Infotainment Media Limited . ENIL along with TIML controls the following media brands in India based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.* Radio Mirchi National network of Private FM stations...
(ENIL), which is one of the subsidiaries of The Times Group
The Times Group
The Times Group is the largest media conglomerate in India and is headed by brothers Samir and Vineet Jain.The company has eleven publishing centres, fifteen printing centres, fifty-five sales offices, Over 7000 employees, five dailies, including two of the largest in the country with approx 4.3...
.
"Mirchi" is Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
for chili
Chili pepper
Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
. The tagline of Radio Mirchi is "It's hot!".
Radio Mirchi maintains weekly music charts (or record charts) for India. The most followed charts are Mirchi Top 20 (Bollywood Songs) and Angrezi Top 20 (English Songs). Both of these charts are a ranking of recorded music according to popularity. These charts are published on a weekly basis in the Indian English-language daily newspaper, The Times of India
The Times of India
The Times of India is an Indian English-language daily newspaper. TOI has the largest circulation among all English-language newspaper in the world, across all formats . It is owned and managed by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd...
, and on Radio Mirchi's official website.
History
The original avatar of Radio Mirchi was Times FM. Radio Mirchi began operations in 1993 in IndoreIndore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
. Until 1993, All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
or AIR, a government undertaking, was the only radio broadcaster in India. The government then took the initiative to privatize the radio broadcasting sector. It sold airtime blocks on its FM channels in Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, Hyderabad, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, Vizag and Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
to private operators, who developed their own program content. The Times Group operated its brand, Times FM, till June 1998.
After that, the government decided not to renew contracts given to private operators.
First round of licenses
In 2000, the government announced the auction of 108 FM frequencies across India. ENIL won the largest number of frequencies, and thus started its operations under the brand name Radio Mirchi.Second round of licenses
In January 2006, Radio Mirchi bagged 25 frequencies in the second wave of licences that were issued by the Government of India. This pushes the Radio Mirchi presence in 32 centers. In the first wave of launches, IndoreIndore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
was the first city in India having grade of first private radio channel.Times decided to start radio channel to address the mass audience as advertisers can be attracted by showing a low cost per thousand.
Areas of operation
Currently, Radio Mirchi has a presence in more than 33 cities, including the 6 metros of India and Radio Mirchi is the costliest station in India as they charge more than double of the competition.Radio Mirchi believes premiumness can be achieved by charging more from the clients. Unlike BIG 92.7 FM which is comparatively much more Economic and yet content which does not meet the expectations of listeners of it:- 98.3 FM - AhmedabadAhmedabadAhmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
Tagline "Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM - It's hot!". - 98.3 FM - Aurangabad, MaharashtraMaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
Tagline "Mirchi Sunne Wale Always Khush" Started On 23 July 2007. - 98.3 FM - BangaloreBangaloreBengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
It uses the tagline "ಸಕ್ಕತ್ ಹಾಟ್ ಮಗಾ! (Sakkath hot maga!)" in Bangalore. - 98.3 FM - Bhopal Tagline "Radio Mirchi - It's Hot"
- 98.3 FM - ChennaiChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
It uses the tagline "Idhu semmma hot machchi!" in Chennai. - 98.3 FM - CoimbatoreCoimbatoreCoimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
Service started on November 2007 "Idhu semmma hot machchi!" - 98.3 FM - DelhiDelhiDelhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
"Its Hot" - 98.3 FM - JaipurJaipurJaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
"Its Hot" - 98.3 FM - MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
"Its Hot" - 98.3 FM - Gwalior It user the tagline "Gwalior Jhoome"
- 98.3 FM - Hyderabad It uses the tagline "Idi chaala hot guru!" in Hyderabad.
- 98.3 FM - IndoreIndoreIndore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, Tagline "Radio Mirchi - "bahut garam hai re baba". - 98.3 FM - Jabalpur, It uses the tagline "Radio Mirchi - It's Hot"
- 98.3 FM - Kanpur - Tagline - "Mirchis sunnewale always khush" and "Radio Mirchi,it's hot"
- 98.3 FM - Kolhapur Tagline -" Radio Mirchi - It's Hot "
- 98.3 FM - KolkataKolkataKolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
It uses the tagline "Mirchi sunne wale always khush" - 98.3 FM - Nasik - It uses the tagline "Mirchi Sunne wale Always Khush" &"Garam Ahe!" On AIR since 6 July 2007
- 98.3 FM - PunePunePune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
Tagline - "Radio Mirchi - It's Hot" / Radio Mirchi - Tikhat Aahe! - 98.3 FM - PatnaPatnaPaṭnā , is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar and the second largest city in Eastern India . Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world...
Tagline - "Radio Mirchi - It's Hot" /It is first station of second phase. - 98.3 FM - JalandharJalandharJalandhar is a city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. It is located 144 km northwest of the state capital, Chandigarh...
Tagline - "Mirchi Sunne Wale Always Khush" & "It's Hot". - 98.3 FM - GoaGoaGoa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
Tagline - "Radio Mirchi - It's Hot" - 98.3 FM - UjjainUjjainUjjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...
Tagline "Its Hot" - 98.3 FM - VadodaraVadodaraVadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
Tagline - "Mirchi Sunne Wale Always Khush" & "It's Hot". - 98.3 FM - Rajkot Tagline "Radio Mirchi - It's Hot"
- 98.3 FM - Raipur Tagline "Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM - It's Hot"
- 98.3 FM - VaranasiVaranasi-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
- Services Started on 14 July 2007 - 98.3 FM - LucknowLucknowLucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
- Services started on 14 August 2007 - 98.3 FM - SuratSuratSurat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
- Service started on 20 August 2007 - 98.3 FM - NagpurNagpurNāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
- Service started on 18 October 2007. Tagline- same as above - 98.3 FM - MaduraiMaduraiMadurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
- Service started on September 2007.It's tagline is "Idhu semmma hot machchi !" (meaning 'It's too hot') - 98.3 FM - MangaloreMangaloreMangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
- Service started on November 2007 with tagline "ಸಕ್ಕತ್ ಹಾಟ್ ಮಾರ್ರೆ!" (Sakkath hot maarre!)" - 98.3 FM - VijayawadaVijayawadaVijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
- Service started on December 2007 Tagline "idi chaala hot guru!" - 98.3 FM - Vizag - Service started on October 2007 Tagline "idi chaala hot guru!"
- 98.3 FM - ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
- Service started on 28 January 2008 Tagline: "Sangathi HOT aanu!"
It reaches out to almost 52% of FM radio listeners in Delhi 44% in Mumbai,40% in Indore,35% in Jaipur,30% in Bhopal,
20% Chennai, 17% in Kolkata, 15% in Nagpur,10% in Bangalore and 02% in Raipur. Radio Mirchi has started providing Visual Radio
Visual Radio
Visual radio is a generic term for adding visuals to normal audio radio broadcasts. Visual Radio is also a trademark for a Nokia solution for interactive radio with FM radio over a data connection.- Nokia Visual Radio :...
to its subscribers in Delhi from 25 July, 2006 onwards and in Mumbai from September 2006. It also has started its Visual Radio service from Kolkata recently.
As per the Radio Audience Measurement Reports (RAM), Radio Mirchi has been dominating in Delhi & is the leader in Mumbai and Kolkata. However in Kolkata they are not clear leaders in SEC ABC segments. The SEC ABC segments were earlier dominated by Big FM & now by Friends FM. However in the SEC D & E segments Radio Mirchi has total domination.
Radio Mirchi Kolkata airs programs named "Hi Kolkata", "Nobboi Not Out", "Harano Sur","Kolkata Express", "coffe house Classics". they have talented Rjs named Mir,Deep,Neel,Riya And Shree.
RDSRadio Data SystemRadio Data System, or RDS, is a communications protocol standard for embedding small amounts of digital information in conventional FM radio broadcasts. RDS standardises several types of information transmitted, including time, station identification and programme information.Radio Broadcast Data...
Service
In MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
; Radio Mirchi sends Radio Text containing information about The Name of Channel, Next Song and Currently Playing song.
Mirchi Music Awards
The Mirchi Music AwardsMirchi Music Awards
The Mirchi Music Awards are presented annually by Radio Mirchi to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Hindi language film music industry of India. The awards, given in seventeen different categories, were instituted to award the best of 2008. In 2010, the Southern...
are annually given awards instituted by Radio Mirchy for excellence in Bollywood film music. It was first given in 2008.
External links
- Radio Mirchi Online
- Radio Mirchi Hyderabad
- http://www.radiomirchi.com
- http://www.enil.co.in - Radio Mirchi Corporate Site