±«Óãtv

±«Óãtv Hindi audiences can now speak out on issues that affect their lives in a special weekly live programme, ±«Óãtv – India Bol. Broadcast every Tuesday, the new 30-minute programme is a platform for millions of listeners and online users, who tune in to ±«Óãtv Hindi radio and access the programmes via bbchindi.com, to share their views.

±«Óãtv – India Bol is modelled on World, Have Your Say, the multimedia interactive programme on ±«Óãtv World Service and now also on ±«Óãtv World News television.

Amit Baruah, Head of ±«Óãtv Hindi, comments: "The philosophy behind ±«Óãtv – India Bol is to lend a voice to our listeners and their concerns and interests.

"We put technology available to us to optimum use to make the programme as open as possible, so our audiences can participate by phone and emails and leave their comments on the programme blog on bbchindi.com.

"It is an example of how we engage our audiences in a global conversation by offering them a platform for interactivity and real-time response."

One of ±«Óãtv – India Bol's presenters, ±«Óãtv Hindi's Rupa Jha, adds: "This is also an excellent platform to make the audience part of our editorial call, and we invite them to come up with the topic for discussion.

"With people across the country telling us what they want us to talk about, ±«Óãtv – India Bol gives us a fantastic opportunity to feel the pulse of the country. This is what has made the programme high on demand, and the free number has made it accessible to the most remote parts of India."

To contribute their comments, listeners can either call a 24-hour free number 1800-11-7000 to record their messages – or call in to the live programme between 8.00pm and 8.30pm India Standard Time on Tuesdays.

They can also log on the special ±«Óãtv – India Bol section on bbchindi.com to share their opinion on the weekly theme.

As listeners share their views on radio, a 'live text' with transcripts of their opinions is simultaneously uploaded on the programme page on bbchindi.com.

±«Óãtv – India Bol is part of ±«Óãtv Hindi's news and current affairs programming produced from London and Delhi, and is available on shortwave, medium wave and via cable television.

The ±«Óãtv also offers special 'infotainment' output for India's FM market, in Hindi and Tamil, available via partner stations across India, in the UAE and in the US.

Hindi-speakers across the world can access ±«Óãtv Hindi in text and in audio via the website bbchindi.com.

Notes to Editors

±«Óãtv Hindi programmes are produced from London and Delhi, set in a rolling format, with news, current affairs and features.

The interactive morning and evening programmes, Aaj Ke Din and Aaj Kal, bring news, analysis and interviews on a range of issues, from current affairs and careers to showbiz and sports.

±«Óãtv Hindi is available on shortwave, medium wave, FM and via cable television.

Hindi-speakers across the world can access ±«Óãtv Hindi programmes in text and in audio at the 24/7 news site bbchindi.com.

The ±«Óãtv's special output for India's FM market includes infotainment updates in Hindi and Tamil languages. This programming is available via partner stations in India: Radio One in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Pune; Radio Choklate in Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack and Rourkela; Hello Radio 106.4 in Chennai, Kovai, Madurai, Trichy, Nellai, Tuticorin and Puducherry; Radio Tadka in Jaipur and Udaipur; Radio Tomato in Kolhapur; Radio Misty in Siliguri and Gangtok; Radio Chaska in Gwalior; and Radio Rangila in Raipur. It is also available via Radio Spice in Dubai, UAE; and in the US via HumDesi Radio in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Jose and Washington DC.

±«Óãtv World Service is an international multimedia broadcaster delivering 32 language and regional services. It uses multiple platforms to reach 188 million listeners globally, including shortwave, AM, FM, digital satellite and cable channels. It has around 2,000 partner radio stations which take ±«Óãtv content, and numerous partnerships supplying content to mobile phones and other wireless handheld devices.

Its news sites include audio and video content and offer opportunities to join the global debate. For more information, visit bbcworldservice.com.

To find out more about the ±«Óãtv's English-language offer and subscribe to a free e-newsletter, visit bbcworldservice.com/schedules.

±«Óãtv World News, the ±«Óãtv's commercially funded international 24-hour news and information channel, is owned and operated by ±«Óãtv World News Ltd, a member of the ±«Óãtv's commercial group of companies.

±«Óãtv World News attracts 74 million viewers a week, is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and reaches 292 million households and more than 1.7 million hotel rooms. The channel's content is also available on 80 cruise ships, 42 airlines, 35 mobile phone networks and a number of major online platforms including bbc.com/news.

For further information on how to receive ±«Óãtv World News, download schedules or find out more about the channel, visit bbcworldnews.com.

±«Óãtv World Service Publicity Team