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The state of Himachal Pradesh is mostly hilly and hence the use of any other media except for the print media; that is newspaper dailies and weeklies, was very difficult even two decades earlier. But now-a-days, mass media and the technical development in the field of satellites and transmissions have simply burgeoned, and its rippling effects are amply evident even in the secluded hilly climes of Himachal Pradesh. Now more and more people of Himachal Pradesh are turning to the electronic media to be up-to-date with the global, national and local news and views. The latest addition to this information boom is in the shape of Internet, which have enabled even remote areas of Himachal Pradesh to get connected with the world.
The most common and widely used language by the media in Himachal Pradesh is Hindi. Most newspapers and many of the regional channels broadcast their content in the Hindi language. Even then the media in Himachal Pradesh has a number of news dailies and channels that broadcast their content in other languages also. The Telegraph, Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Punjab Kesari are some of the important newspapers which have their presence in the state. Vernacular newspapers in Punjabi and Nepali also attract selective readership. However, due to the mountainous terrain of the region, the television mostly operates with the help of the broadcasting of the satellites. Television has emerged as a popular medium for the infotainment of Himachal Pradesh people.
With the popularizing of radio and television, the number of broadcasters has also increased. Apart from the traditional Doordarshan channel, a number of regional channels that broadcast their content in the languages that are spoken in the state have opened their shops. Even the English and Nepali channels, along with the Hindi channels, are provided by the broadcasters, and the broadcasting is decoded by the local cable operators and the transmitted to the people.
However, even today, the radio is the only means of communication and entertainment in the most interior parts of the state. For the information and entertainment of the people who cannot afford television or are located at a place where the television signals cannot reach, there are a number of FM stations in Himachal Pradesh. The city of Shimla has its own FM radio station, which has been started while keeping in mind the tastes of the local people as well as the tourists. The radio helps people in remote areas to connect with the rest of the world. Also special programs are conducted during festivals. The radio channels are now negotiating with the government to allow them to broadcast even the international channels.
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