Sai Global Harmony
| City | Prashanti Nilayam |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | International |
| First air date | 23 November 2001 |
| Language(s) | English, Telugu |
| Webcast | RadioSai Player |
| Website | Official website |
Sai Global Harmony is a WorldSpace digital satellite radio channel airing programs by/on Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi, India.[1] Programs include, Sai Baba "discourses, bhajans, songs, talks, interviews and plays."[1] List of Programs Broadcast by Radio Sai A webstream of the same channel is available on radiosai.org
History
"It all began with a visit of Dr. Noah Samara, Chairman and CEO of WorldSpace, to Bangalore some time in September 2001. While in Bangalore, Dr. Samara heard about Sathya Sai Baba Super Speciality Hospital. He just could not believe that a Tertiary Care Hospital offered treatment completely free; he had to see it for himself... He went, he saw and he was bowled over. Inevitably he (went) to Prashanthi Nilayam, and on the spot offered free a radio channel on AsiaStar."[2]
"Preparations followed and on 23 November 2001, Dr. Michael Nobel, Member of the WorldSpace Board, formally offered the radio channel to Sathya Sai Baba."[2] "On Dr. Nobel's request Sai Baba pressed a button; and presto, the huge Birthday crowd in Sai Kulwant Hall heard the specially recorded Inaugural Program."[2]
Upon its inception, Sai Global Harmony beamed its programs, "via the AsiaStar satellite of WorldSpace, all over Asia."[1]
On 28 March 2003, Sai Global Harmony expanded its broadcasting into "Africa, West Asia and most parts of Europe (including the UK), via the AfriStar satellite of WorldSpace Corporation."[3]
Even after the shut down of WorldSpace services in India in December 2008, Sai Global Harmony continued to be broadcast over the satellite radio system, and gradually began to expand its services via internet streaming. As of 30 May 2012, Radio Sai continues to be the only channel still being received by the WorldSpace satellite raidio receiver sets in India.
Currently, Radio Sai Global Harmony broadcasts via the internet through "Three full service streams, with schedules suitable for listeners in Asia, Africa/Europe and America respectively. In addition The Telugu stream contains Telugu language full service programming, The Discourse streams discourses delivered by Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the Bhajan Stream broadcasts Sai Bhajans all round the clock. Every tenth bhajan broadcast in the Bhajan Stream is in the voice of Sai Baba. The daily proceedings in the Sai Kulvant Hall at Prasanthi Nilayam are broadcast live over the WorldSpace, AsiaStream and TeluguStream from 8.00 AM to 9.30 AM and 4.30 PM to 6.00 PM IST on non-festival days. On festival days, the timings of the live broadcast may be extended. "[4] Radio Sai also video streams the celebrations, functions, plays, dramas and special events live on its website. From 17 May 2012, RadioSai started to broadcast live entire day, every Thursday.
Broadcasting
Studios: Radio Sai has hi-tech recording studios at Prasanthi Nilayam, where the headquarters of Radio Sai are located, a Studio in Vishakhapatanam, one in Hyderabad, and another in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, as well as in Indore in Madhya Pradesh. "[5]
When Sai Global Harmony began, they used "to record audio files on to CD and send them to the uplink stations via Bangalore. The uplink station for AfriStar is in Johannesburg. (Sai Global Harmony) still send CDs but increasingly use the Internet, sending data by SFTP."[6] The programs transmitted to Melbourne and Johannesburg are stored in computers there. The daily broadcast schedule is organized from Prashanthi Nilayam by generating playlists. Separate playlists are made for AsiaStar and AfriStar."[6]
References
- 1 2 3 http://www.radiosai.org/Pages/Asiastar.htm
- 1 2 3 http://www.radiosai.org/Pages/Began.htm
- ↑ http://www.radiosai.org/Pages/Afristar.htm
- ↑ http://www.radiosai.org/Pages/Streaming_Audio.htm
- ↑ http://media.radiosai.org/journals/vol_10/01MAR12/radiosa_invitation.htm
- 1 2 http://www.radiosai.org/Pages/Broadcast.htm