28 companies to bid for FM Phase-III auctions

31 Mar 2015 Evaluate

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has received 28 applications for the first batch of FM Radio Phase III auctions with the applicants cumulatively submitting Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of about Rs 316.91 crore.

The government has invited applications for the e-auction of 135 Private FM Radio Channels in 69 cities with existing services. The applications are subject to requirements and scrutiny, after which the ministry will release a list of pre-qualified bidders, which is expected to be out by April 23. The first batch of e-auctions will see the addition of new radio channels in cities such as Chennai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad. In each of these cities one FM radio channel is up for grabs.

Reliance Broadcast Network, Times Group’s Entertainment Network (India), Sun TV Network , HT Media, Jagran Prakashan’s Music Broadcast Pvt, DB Corp, Embassy Nirman, Malar Publications, Nirmal Sagar Buildcon, Kal Radio, South Asia FM, Sun TV Network, Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting, Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting, Abir Buildcon, Remi Overseas and Sunplant Broadcasting  are among the companies that have applied to participate in the FM radio auctions. It has been reported that 15 of the companies that have applied already hold licences for private FM channels under Phase-II.

Currently, 243 FM radio channels are operational in 86 cities of which 21 private FM radio channels were set up in Phase-I and an additional 222 channels were opened during Phase-II. Phase-III of the expansion of FM radio services seeks to pave way for introduction of private FM radio channels in 253 new cities, each having a population of more than one lakh as per Census-2011.

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