Tajik Local Radio Expands Coverage With New Transmitter

Text of report by Tajik Avesta website on 30 November

Kulob, 30 November: Independent radio Mavj-i Tojik (Tajik wave) which broadcasts in Kulob districts of Khatlon Region has expanded its audience, the director of the radio station, Saidumar Bozorov, told Avesta. With assistance from the Eurasia Foundation, the company bought a new 200 W transmitter, he said.

“Our current listeners are residents of practically all districts of the region, except for Danghara and Khovaling. The radio audiences include over 60 per cent of people in Kulob zone districts,” Bozorov said.

When the station started its broadcasts in 2002, it had just a few programmes and limited airtime because it used a 10 W transmitter which it leased from TV-Kulob, he said. The channel had listeners only in the town [of Kulob].

The channel employs 15 people now. The technical and creative units are staffed with young students who study Tajik language and literature at Kulob State University. The radio broadcasts in Tajik for six hours a day on the 101.5 FM frequency, with regional news bulletins three times a day.

Various entertainment programmes are being prepared in addition to the news.