EGoM clears FM Radio Ph 3 auction; TRAI to fix fee structure

The EGoM approval has put FM Phase III's implementation on a fast track

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Mumbai | March 11, 2013

There is good news for the FM radio industry. The Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM), it is learnt, has cleared the auction process for FM Phase III. The clearance came a week after the presentation of the Union Budget in which the Finance Minister had announced that around 839 new FM radio channels will be auctioned in 2013-14 covering 294 cities and towns. After the auction, all cities having a population of more than 100,000 will be covered by private FM radio services.

The EGoM approval has put FM Phase III's implementation on a fast track. It has tasked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to give its responses on several issues including the fee structure.

Vineet Singh Hukmani, Managing Director, Radio One, said, “The EGoM has passed the policy which has been fast tracked post the budget. Fee related issues have been referred to TRAI and so we at Radio One feel this is going to be an exciting year for the radio industry and we thank the MIB for pushing this forward.”

Apurva Purohit, CEO of Radio City, said, “We have been awaiting the implementation of the policy for a while and it is indeed good news that the EGOM has cleared the same. Expansion of FM will be beneficial to all stakeholders; the players, listeners, advertisers and the government. Phase 3 will certainly push FM in the direction of growth and achieving its true share of 8 per cent of the advertising pie.”

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