NEW DELHI: The govt on Wednesday approved the proposal for the third batch of ascending e-auctions for 730 FM radio channels in 234 new cities, with an estimated reserve price of around Rs 785 crore under the Private FM Radio Phase III Policy. Many of the approved towns are in aspirational districts and left-wing affected areas.
Announcing the Cabinet decision, Union I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the govt also approved a proposal to charge an annual license fee (ALF) of FM channel as 4% of gross revenue excluding GST.This will be applicable for 234 new cities and towns. The private FM radio roll out in new cities and towns will fulfil the unmet demand for FM radio in these areas which still remain uncovered by private FM radio broadcasting and bring new and local content in mother tongue, an official statement said.
PM Narendra Modi in a post on X said, “The Cabinet decision on the roll out of Private FM Radio to 234 cities and towns will enhance access to diverse and local content, thus encouraging creativity and encouraging local languages as well as cultures.”
Setting up of private FM radio in these areas will further strengthen govt outreach in these areas, an official statement said.
The govt added this will lead to creation of new employment opportunities, boost to local dialect and culture and ‘vocal for local’ initiatives.
The approved cities and towns include Port Blair, Jagdalpur, Korba, Imphal, Dimapur, Dibrugarh, Arrah, Begusarai, Amreli, Bhuj, Rohtak, Anantnag, Dhanbad, Belgaum, Palakkad, Mandsaur, Latur, Goindiya, Puri, Sambalpur, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Alwar, Conoor, Thanjavur, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Etah, Haridwar and Darjeeling.
At present, there are 36 private FM broadcasters operating 388 FM radio stations in 113 cities.
Announcing the Cabinet decision, Union I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the govt also approved a proposal to charge an annual license fee (ALF) of FM channel as 4% of gross revenue excluding GST.This will be applicable for 234 new cities and towns. The private FM radio roll out in new cities and towns will fulfil the unmet demand for FM radio in these areas which still remain uncovered by private FM radio broadcasting and bring new and local content in mother tongue, an official statement said.
PM Narendra Modi in a post on X said, “The Cabinet decision on the roll out of Private FM Radio to 234 cities and towns will enhance access to diverse and local content, thus encouraging creativity and encouraging local languages as well as cultures.”
Setting up of private FM radio in these areas will further strengthen govt outreach in these areas, an official statement said.
The govt added this will lead to creation of new employment opportunities, boost to local dialect and culture and ‘vocal for local’ initiatives.
The approved cities and towns include Port Blair, Jagdalpur, Korba, Imphal, Dimapur, Dibrugarh, Arrah, Begusarai, Amreli, Bhuj, Rohtak, Anantnag, Dhanbad, Belgaum, Palakkad, Mandsaur, Latur, Goindiya, Puri, Sambalpur, Ludhiana, Bathinda, Alwar, Conoor, Thanjavur, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Etah, Haridwar and Darjeeling.
At present, there are 36 private FM broadcasters operating 388 FM radio stations in 113 cities.