Kismat Radio increases Punjabi output

Kismat Radio has increased its Punjabi content to fill the gap left vacant by its Sunrise Punjabi Radio station, which recently ceased broadcasting on the digital platform.

The adult contemporary station, which focuses on regional languages such as Punjabi, Gujarati and Urdu, will continue to do so but with further emphasis on its Punjabi output. The strand titled ‘Punjabi Radio on Kismat 1035AM’ will have 15 hours of Punjabi programming, starting from 05:00 each morning with a Sikh religious show between 05:00 and 10:00. This has resulted in the previous Gujarati Breakfast show being axed and its Gujarati slot moving to 22:00 weeknights.

Jasvir Singh who fronts the morning Gurbani show on Kismat Radio, was previously on rival station Punjab Radio. The religious programme is followed by Punjabi entertainment shows until 20:00. After this, two hours of Pakistani and two hours of Gujarati content follows.

It is not known whether Ofcom has granted Kismat Radio a drastic programme format change without consultation from commercial Punjabi music rivals – Panjab Radio and Desi Radio in the London market. It remains to be seen in the future how much listeners accept the programming shift in days to come.