Govt approves amendments for private FM Phase-III guidelines

The Centre has simplified the financial eligibility requirements in the policy guidelines for the expansion of private FM radio stations, allowing businesses with a net worth of Rs 1 crore to participate in the bidding process for category "C" and "D" cities.

The three amendments to the Policy Guidelines on Expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting Services through Private Agencies (Phase-III) together will help the private FM radio industry to 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 official statement read.



The decision, taken by the Union Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, also decided to remove the three-year window period for restructuring of FM radio permissions within the same management group during the license period of 15 years.

In a Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi, the Union Cabinet also decided to remove the three-year window period for restructuring of FM radio permissions within the same management group during the license period of 15 years.

The government further has accepted the long pending demand of the radio industry to remove the 15 per cent national cap on channel holding, the official statement added.

Speaking on the reforms, Association of Radio Operators of India (AROI) President, Ms Anurradha Prasad said “For this, we at AROI are truly grateful to Honb’ble Minister Shri Anurag Thakur and Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra. After waiting for many years, the radio industry has finally got this relief”.

“At this time, I would also like to reiterate that the critical needs of the radio broadcasters viz. a) rationalizing the Annual License Fee (ALF) and b) increasing the period of the license by 3 years, to offset the extremely disastrous impact of Covid on the radio industry”.

Inputs from PTI