Established in Kolkata in 2012, Internet radio station Radio BongOnet, has seen a significant boost in listeners post the pandemic and lockdown.
“We have over 10,000 app downloads and 4 million daily listeners today,” said founder Saheb Sharma, 32.
The online station caters to over 5 million Bengalis across the globe.
The radio entrepreneur, who was born visually-impaured, started the station with the intention of helping users carry a piece of Bengal in their pockets, at all times. “I was always fascinated by the medium as radio was my only source of entertainment and infotainment prior to the Internet-era,” says Sharma, who completed his schooling from Ramakrishna Mission in Narendrapur and graduated in Media and Communications from IISWBM, Kolkata.
The platform offers music that is classified into 10 themes, some of the most popular themes being Bangla Rock, Bangla Folk, Rabindrasangeet and Old Bengali Hits.
“The thematic approach of the platform overcomes the constraints of time-based programming and allows consumers to access it according to their convenience,” explains Sharma.
Radio BongOnet is run by a small team of seven members. Donations and campaigns with bilateral agencies and NGOs help them secure funds. Having collaborated with UNESCO and American Council in the past, Sharma insists he doesn’t plan on commercialising. “We are a small platform and we have tried to keep it as organic and candid as possible. Social media has helped to spread the word but as it is mostly driven by funds, we are not able to advertise much,” he says.
The USP of Radio BongOnet is that it profiles and promotes individual artistes, enabling them to receive international recognition. Listeners tune in from Europe, the US, Middle East and other parts of the world. Currently, the station is experimenting with a new genre - Radio Hindi International (RHI) that plays covers and unplugged versions of old Hindi hits.
Established in Kolkata in 2012, Internet radio station Radio BongOnet, has seen a significant boost in listeners post the pandemic and lockdown.
“We have over 10,000 app downloads and 4 million daily listeners today,” said founder Saheb Sharma, 32.
The online station caters to over 5 million Bengalis across the globe.
The radio entrepreneur, who was born visually-impaured, started the station with the intention of helping users carry a piece of Bengal in their pockets, at all times. “I was always fascinated by the medium as radio was my only source of entertainment and infotainment prior to the Internet-era,” says Sharma, who completed his schooling from Ramakrishna Mission in Narendrapur and graduated in Media and Communications from IISWBM, Kolkata.
The platform offers music that is classified into 10 themes, some of the most popular themes being Bangla Rock, Bangla Folk, Rabindrasangeet and Old Bengali Hits.
“The thematic approach of the platform overcomes the constraints of time-based programming and allows consumers to access it according to their convenience,” explains Sharma.
Radio BongOnet is run by a small team of seven members. Donations and campaigns with bilateral agencies and NGOs help them secure funds. Having collaborated with UNESCO and American Council in the past, Sharma insists he doesn’t plan on commercialising. “We are a small platform and we have tried to keep it as organic and candid as possible. Social media has helped to spread the word but as it is mostly driven by funds, we are not able to advertise much,” he says.
The USP of Radio BongOnet is that it profiles and promotes individual artistes, enabling them to receive international recognition. Listeners tune in from Europe, the US, Middle East and other parts of the world. Currently, the station is experimenting with a new genre - Radio Hindi International (RHI) that plays covers and unplugged versions of old Hindi hits.