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I&B Ministry issues notice for e-auction of 266 private FM Radio channels

The e-auction will take place in 92 cities in the second batch of FM Phase III. The second batch consists of 227 channels in 69 new cities

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I&B Ministry issues notice for e-auction of 266 private FM Radio channels

The e-auction will take place in 92 cities in the second batch of FM Phase III. The second batch consists of 227 channels in 69 new cities

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Mumbai | June 21, 2016

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The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on June 20 issued a notice inviting applications for e-auction of 266 FM radio channels in 92 cities in the second batch of the private FM phase-III scheme.

The second batch consists of 227 channels in 69 new cities besides 39 channels in 23 existing cities. Out of 69 new cities taken up for auction in the second batch, 20 cities with 80 channels have a population of 3 to10 lakh. 38 cities with 114 channels have a population of 1 to 3 lakh whereas 11 cities in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern states have a population of up to one lakh having 33 channels.

The notice states the eligibility criteria, application procedures, reserve prices of channels, frequencies available for selection, auction rules, etc.

Applications have to be submitted latest by 5 pm on August 1, 2016. The Government will then shortlist applicants who meet the eligibility criteria for participation in the auction.

The notice for the second batch of private FM Phase III will further the process of expansion of FM Radio broadcasting services through private agencies. The process began with the notification of FM Phase III Policy guidelines on July 25, 2011 which was modified on January 21, 2015.

E-auction of the first batch commenced on July 27, 2015 and was over on September 9, 2015. 91 channels were sold in 54 cities in this batch.

The first batch comprised vacant channels in existing cities only. Hence, the operationalisation of channels in new cities taken up in the second batch will lead to actual geographical expansion of private FM radio.

Of the 266 channels on offer, special incentives are being provided to 36 channels in 14 cities in Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern states. The FM Phase III policy exudes the Government's thrust for concerted development of the North Eastern states and J&K and provides much-needed support to the FM radio broadcasting services in cities of these regions. Annual fee of the channels in these areas is at half the rates for the first three years. Besides, Prasar Bharati infrastructure will be provided at half the lease rentals.

List of FM Channels put on Bid in the Second Batch of Phase-III of Private FM Radio Broadcasting

S.No. Name of City State Region No of Channels for auction
Category “A”     (Cities with Population above 20 lakh)
1 Hyderabad Telangana S 1
Sub Total 1
Category “B” (Cities with Population above 10 lakh and up to 20 Lakh)
2 Asansol West Bengal E 2
3 Vijayawada Andhra Pradesh S 2
Sub Total 4
Category “C” (Cities with Population above 3 lakh and up to 10 Lakh)
4 Akola Maharashtra W 1
5 Alappuzha (Alleppey) Kerala S 4
6 Amravati Maharashtra W 4
7 Belgaum Karnataka S 4
8 Bellary Karnataka S 4
9 Bhavnagar Gujarat W 4
10 Dehradun Uttarakhand N 4
11 Devengeri Karnataka S 4
12 Dhule Maharashtra W 2
13 Erode Tamil Nadu S 4
14 Gulbarga Karnataka S 3
15 Hubli-Dharwad Karnataka S 4
16 Jamnagar Gujarat W 4
17 Jhansi Uttar Pradesh N 2
18 Kakinada Andhra Pradesh S 4
19 Kurnool Andhra Pradesh S 4
20 Malegaon Maharashtra W 4
21 Mangaluru Karnataka S 1
22 Muzaffarpur Bihar E 1
23 Muzaffarnagar Uttar Pradesh N 4
24 Mysuru Karnataka S 2
25 Nanded Maharashtra W 2
26 Nellore Andhra Pradesh S 4
27 Puducherry Puducherry(UT) S 1
28 Rajahmundry Andhra Pradesh S 3
29 Saharanpur Uttar Pradesh N 4
30 Salem Tamil Nadu S 4
31 Sangli Maharashtra W 1
32 Shahjahanpur Uttar Pradesh N 4
33 Siliguri West Bangal E 1
34 Tiruchy Tamil Nadu S 2
35 Tirunelveli Tamil Nadu S 2
36 Tirupati Andhra Pradesh S 2
37 Tuticorin Tamil Nadu S 2
38 Ujjain Madhya Pradesh W 4
39 Vellore Tamil nadu S 4
40 Warangal Telangana S 3
Sub Total 111
Category “D” (Cities with Population above 1 lakh and up to 3 Lakh)
41 Achalpur Maharashtra W 3
42 Agartala Tripura E 1
43 Aizwal Mizoram E 1
44 Barshi Maharashtra W 3
45 Bharuch Gujarat W 3
46 Botad Gujarat W 3
47 Burhanpur Madhya Pradesh W 3
48 Chhattarpur Madhya Pradesh W 3
49 Chhindwara Madhya Pradesh W 3
50 Damoh Madhya Pradesh W 3
51 Dahod Gujarat W 3
52 Durg-Bhillainagar Chhatisgarh W 3
53 Godhra Gujarat W 3
54 Gondiya Maharashtra W 3
55 Guna Madhya Pradesh W 3
56 Itanagar Arunachal Pradesh E 1
57 Itarsi Madhya Pradesh W 3
58 Jagdalpur Chhatisgarh W 3
59 Jetpur Navagadh Gujarat W 3
60 Junagadh Gujarat W 3
61 Khandwa Madhya Pradesh W 3
62 Khargone Madhya Pradesh W 3
63 Korba Chhatisgarh W 3
64 Mehsana Gujarat W 3
65 Mandsaur Madhya Pradesh W 3
66 Murwara (Katni) Madhya Pradesh W 3
67 Neemuch Madhya Pradesh W 3
68 Palanpur Gujarat W 3
69 Patan Gujarat W 3
70 Porbandar Gujarat W 3
71 Raigarh Chhatisgarh W 3
72 Ratlam Madhya Pradesh W 3
73 Rewa Madhya Pradesh W 3
74 Satna Madhya Pradesh W 3
75 Shivpuri Madhya Pradesh W 3
76 Singrauli Madhya Pradesh W 3
77 Surendranagar Dudhrej Gujarat W 3
78 Veraval Gujarat W 3
79 Vidisha Madhya Pradesh W 3
80 Wardha Maharashtra W 3
81 Yavatmal Maharashtra W 3
Sub Total 117
Cities with a population upto 1 lakh in Border Areas of J & K and NE states
82 Kargil J & K N 3
83 Leh J & K N 3
84 Kathua J & K N 3
85 Poonch J & K N 3
86 Bhaderwah J & K N 3
87 Dhubri Assam E 3
88 Haflong Assam E 3
89 Jowai Meghalaya E 3
90 Lung-lei Mizoram E 3
91 Mokukchung Nagaland E 3
92 Belonia Tripura E 3
Sub total 33
GRAND TOTAL 266

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