Radio Sai Global Harmony - The Divine Message 24 hours a day

June 9, 2006

Radio Sai Global Harmony brings you 24 hours a day, every day,

The Universal Message of Love of BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

With the Divine Blessings of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Radio Sai went on the air for the first time on 23rd November 2001. Initially the broadcast service was restricted to just parts of Asia. Currently we cover the whole globe, and our services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In Asia, our services can be picked up on the AsiaStar satellite of WorldSpace, while we serve Africa and Europe via the AfriStar satellite of WorldSpace. The footprints of these two satellites are shown below.

Besides the two satellite radio services, we also offer a streaming service on the internet, especially for the benefit of listeners in America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

AFRICA Network ASIA Network

How it all Began ...

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 Swami's Super Speciality Hospital. He just could not believe that a Tertiary Care Hospital offered treatment completely free; he had to see it for himself and convince himself that indeed there was such a hospital on the face of the earth. He went, he saw and he was bowled over. Inevitably he made the pilgrimage to Prashanthi Nilayam, and on the spot offered free a radio channel on AsiaStar.

Hectic preparations followed and on 23rd November 2001, Dr. Michael Nobel, Member of the WorldSpace Board, formally offered the radio channel to Swami. Speaking on that occasion Dr. Nobel said that if Swami's Mesage of Love could reach so far and wide by sheer word of mouth, how much farther would be the reach via a 24-hour radio service. On Dr. Nobel's request Swami pressed a button; and presto, the huge Birthday crowd in Sai Kulwant Hall heard the specially recorded Inaugural Program. Yes, Radio Sai was now a reality, sharing the same Birthday as the one whose voice it carried.

It was then a small step; since then, with Bhagawan's Grace, Radio Sai has made big leaps!

How we Broadcast

All our programs originate in Prashanthi Nilayam, and by Swami's Grace we now have a full-fledged studio to do all the pre-broadcast work.

When we began, we used to record audio files on to CD and send them to the uplink stations via Bangalore. Our uplink station for AfriStar is in Johannesburg. We still send CDs but increasingly use the Internet, sending data by SFTP. We do this especially when important events take place. For example, on Swami's Birthday in 2003, the Divine Discourse delivered starting about 8:00 IST was on the air roughly 5 or 6 hours later.

The programs transmitted to Melbourne and Johannesberg are stored in computers there. The daily broadcast schedule is organized from Prashanthi Nilayam by generating what are called Playlists. Separate Playlists are made for AsiaStar and AfriStar. We have made this provision because soon we hope to generate more and more region specific programs. Thus, for example, we hope to have special programs in Italian, German etc, for the benefit of listeners in Europe and likewise special programs meant for Africa.

Playlist generation is done using software developed in Prashanthi Nilayam. Using the internet, the Playlists are loaded into the computers in the uplink stations, which then take over. In brief the broadcast items preloaded into the uplink computers are controlled entirely from Prashanthi Nilayam. Playlist generation and control is done via computers located in the Prashanthi Digital Studio and the Sri Sathya Sai Space Theatre (Planetarium). Historically, our services started in the Planetarium; the Prashanthi Digital Studio came later. Even so, the Planetarium continues to be an important anchor point for Radio Sai.

To know more about how we run the streaming service,

To know more about Broadcast Timings and Time Zone Differences,

Prashanti Digital Studio Planetarium

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Where can we receive Radio Sai?

You can listen to Radio Sai with a WorldSpace receiver in Asia and most parts of Africa and Europe. If you are located outside this coverage area, you can listen to our streaming web service, which is available here. SGH on AfriStar for Europe and Africa is a pay channel in WorldSpace's Gold Bouquet. Satellite coverage maps are available here.

2. Can we receive Radio Sai with our Digital Radio?

You need a WorldSpace receiver to listen to Radio Sai, since programs are transmitted from the WorldSpace Satellite in an encrypted format.

3. Where can we buy a WorldSpace receiver?

An exhaustive list of WorldSpace dealers is available at www.worldspace.com. WorldSpace receivers are also available in a variety of models at different price points at the Bhaktha Sahayak Sangh General Stores in Prashanthi Nilayam.

4. I bought a set from Prashanthi Nilayam and the sales assistant told me to point the antenna to the South East to receive the broadcast. Even though I've done so, why am I not able to receive Radio Sai?

The sales assistant told you to point to the South East, assuming you live in India. If you live outside India, follow the directions given in the instruction mannual of the receiver. Some minor that and error adjustments may be needed to get the best reception.

5. Can we contribute programs to Radio Sai?

We would be happy to receive your support. Please contact office (AT) radiosai (DOT) org for information on this.

6. How do you broadcast from Prashanthi Nilayam?

This is explained here.

7. Can you do live broadcasts?

At present we are unable to offer live broadcasts. We are working on this, and if things go well, soon we may be able to offer live broadcasts of select events from Prashanthi Nilayam. But we did broadcast live once; that was during the Birthday season of 2002. That was given us same valuable experience.

8. When do you broadcast Baba's discourses?

Our schedule gives more information.

9. Can we buy Radio Sai broadcast material on CDs?

Some material is available for sale at the Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust at Prashanthi Nilayam.

10. Can we listen to Radio Sai on our car radio?

At present, WorldSpace receivers are not available for installation in cars. The antenna is directional, so reception is not ensured in moving cars. But WorldSpace is woking in that direction. A solution may be expected soon.

Source: Radio Sai website: http://www.radiosai.org