E-Paper
Government amends FM radio guidelines
The first change includes removing the 3-year window period for restructuring of FM radio permissions within the same management group during the license period of 15 years
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved three amendments to provisions contained in the “Policy Guidelines on Expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting Services through Private Agencies (Phase-III)”, referred to as Private FM Phase-III Policy Guidelines, to enable radio channels to leverage economies of scale and improve ease of doing business, according ti a government statement.
“The decision was taken in the last Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the ministry of information and broadcasting said.
The first change removes the three-year window period for the restructuring of FM radio permissions within the same management group during the license period of 15 years. Earlier, the companies were not allowed to restructure their management for three years during the license period.
The second change is removing a long-pending demand of the radio industry to remove the 15% national cap on channel holding. Barring Jammu and Kashmir, North Eastern States and island territories, no single entity had permission to hold more than 15% of all channels allotted in the country.
The second change is removing a long-pending demand of the radio industry to remove the 15% national cap on channel holding. Barring Jammu and Kashmir, North Eastern States and island territories, no single entity had permission to hold more than 15% of all channels allotted in the country.
These three amendments together will help the private FM radio industry “fully leverage the economies of scale and pave the way for further expansion of FM radio and entertainment to Tier-III cities in the country, the statement said.
“This will not only create new employment opportunities but also ensure that music and entertainment over the FTA (Free to Air) radio media is available to the common man in the remotest corners of the country,” the ministry said, adding that the steps will improve ease of doing business in the country, ensure simplification and rationalisation of the existing rules “to make governance more efficient and effective so that its benefits reach the common man”.
