Akashvani Shivamogga gets a 10kW transmitter

Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan inaugurated a 10 kW transmitter at Akashvani Shivamogga on February 25.

Shivamogga becomes the 25th location in Karnataka to have a transmitter and a relay centre. The State has 14 programme centres and 10 relay centres. For all these years, radio listeners in Shivamogga and the neighbouring districts have had to access Akashvani Bhadravati, which has a 1 kW transmitter.

Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan inaugurated a 10kW transmitter at Akashvani Shivamogga, in the presence of Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra and others, on February 25, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
S.K. Dinesh

Mr. Murugan stated that, with the inauguration of the 10kW transmitter, Prasar Bharati would provide more listeners access to radio programmes with clarity.

“Akashvani is the most trusted and effective medium. We are reaching more than 99% of our population. The enhanced transmitter facility in Shivamogga exhibits our commitment to reaching every individual in the country. The new facility will ensure that listeners spread across eight districts can access the programmes, covering an area of over 3,500 square kilometres,” he said.

The Minister said that, in recent years, many people have become content creators. The Union Government has decided to establish content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools to boost the ‘orange economy’. The government has been spending ₹2,500 crore to improve broadcasting infrastructure facilities in the country.

Radio sets in parks

Responding to a plea by elected representatives, the Union Minister stated that his ministry would take up the installation of radio sets in parks in Shivamogga city on a pilot basis. “By installing radio sets in public parks, we can reach a larger audience. The idea originated from Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra and MLA S.N. Channabasappa. For the first time, we will initiate the programme in Shivamogga, and expand it to the national level in the coming days,” he said.

Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra said that his father and former CM B.S. Yediyurappa, when he was the MP from Shivamogga, submitted a plea to the Union Government for a transmitter in Shivamogga in 2009. Later, he (Raghavendra) followed up on the proposal. “In 2025, the pooja was conducted for the transmission centre. Within a year, it was ready. With the enhanced transmitter capacity, the programmes of Akashvani Bhadravati will reach nearly 1 crore people spread over many districts. Within a couple of months, the relay centre will also get a studio,” he stated.

Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa, MLC Dr. Dhananjay Sarji, Shivamogga DC Prabhulinga Kavalikatti, SP B. Nikhil, Akshavani DG Rajendra Jain, ADG Geetha Rani and others were present at the programme.