The stage is set for the much-awaited auction of 135 channels of Private FM Radio in 69 cities under Phase II in the first batch. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting issued notice for their e-auction on Thursday.
This is following the recent approval of Cabinet for conduction of FM auctions for these channels besides migration (renewal) of Private FM Radio licenses from Phase-II to Phase-III.
The Ministry has accepted the recommendations of TRAI of allowing 15-year licence period for operators migrating from phase II to phase III.
As a part of the proposed policy radio operators will be permitted to carry news bulletins of All India Radio and information related to sporting events, traffic and weather, public announcements, besides subjects related to examinations, results, admissions, career counseling etc.
The limit on the ownership of channels, at the national level, allocated to an entity has been retained at 15 per cent. However, channels allotted in Jammu & Kashmir, North-Eastern States and island territories will be allowed over and above the 15 per cent national limit to offer more incentives for new channels to participate in bidding.
Private operators have been allowed to own more than one channel but not more than 40 per cent of the total channels in a city subject to a minimum of three different operators in the city.