One more radio station for Asians in London

Kismat, targeted at over 35-year-olds from the Asian community, will broadcast shows 24X7.

London will soon have another radio station targeted at the Asian community.

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Plans for the station called Kismat, part of the Sunrise Group, have been cleared by Britain's official regulatory authority Ofcom.

The station, which will broadcast 24 hours a day and seven days a week, will be targeted at over 35-year-olds from the Asian community.

Avtar Lit, chairperson of the Sunrise Group, said he was delighted with Ofcom's decision. He said the new station will have an emphasis on news, debate and discussion relevant to London's million plus Asians.

It will also have a mix of popular forms of music including cinema hits, folk music, qawaalis, ghazals and religious music.

Lit said Kismat will be launched early in the new year with test transmissions starting soon.

Sunrise Radio was launched in 1989 and its initial broadcast range was limited to the West London Asian community.

In January 1994 it went on to broadcast London-wide.

The Sunrise Group also owns the Time Brand of radio stations, which operate English services for Romford, Lewisham & Southwark, Greenwich & North Kent and Star FM which covers Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead.

The group's YAR Brand of service (Young Asian Radio) is broadcasting in London, Coventry, Wolverhampton and Bradford.

The group operates five national services in Sri Lanka and two in Mauritius.