MUMBAI: Mizoram capital Aizawl got its first independent FM station on 15 August.

Named 'Zoawi'(meaning celebrating Aizawl), the station, launched by Prasar Bharati, is positioned 'for the masses'. This is the second time Mizos get to sample FM, as AIR has been running Lunglei, which airs All India Radio content in the FM band in the city of Lunglei.

�Zoawi' will operate only for five hours a day, from 5 pm to 10 pm. The FM station has been made operational using a 3x2 KW old transmitter which was lying unused, say sources. RJs from Mizoram's main AIR station have been roped in to service the new radio station as well. The AIR main station was set up on year 1966.

Commenting on the public response, AIR's deputy director of north east region 2, C Lalrosanga said, "People here are very open to a medium like radio. We have received good response from our audience and advertisers as we are the only FM station functioning here. As a medium, we want to do more than just keep it as an entertainment segment in the society."

The station plays English, Hindi, western and Mizo music for its listeners. The library of the station consists of its own old stock of recordings, new recordings and regional music. The station also telecasts 10 minutes of news at 6.30 pm, sourced from AIR's main station of Aizawl.

The programming format on the station only changes on Sunday when the station plays devotional songs, as a majority of Mizos visit the church on the day.

According to Lalrosanga, the tiny hilltown state, with a population of less than one million, is full of talent and finding talent for the station for the station would not be a problem. Nor is power supply a problem, since Mizoram is exempt from the power cuts that plague other north eastern states.

The State's AIDS control society will be the first advertiser on the FM station. The station plans to broadcast for 24 hours a day after a proper infrastructure set up.