No decision yet on private FM channels airing news

Private FM radios will have permission to air news bulletin from the All India Radio (AIR) only, as the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has not taken any decision yet on the proposal to increase the scope of news coverage by them.

In the third phase of FM network expansion, however, privately-owned radio stations will have permission to cover sports events, including covering them live. These stations can also air commentaries of sporting events organised in their locality, according to guidelines approved for the third phase of expansion of FM radio.

The radio stations will also have permission to cover topics pertaining to examinations, results, admissions, career-counselling and employment opportunities. Public announcements on civic amenities, like electricity, water supply, natural calamities and health alerts, as provided by the local administration, can also be aired by FM stations. They will be treated as non-news and current affairs broadcast.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar had recently indicated that the scope of news coverage by privately-owned FM radio channels could be increased to allow them to cover news from other sources too, like the Press Trust of India.

“As of now, no decision has been taken on this,” said sources in the I&B Ministry.

As many as 242 private FM radio stations are currently functional in 85 cities across the country under the government’s policy for expansion of FM radio broadcasting services.

The ministry plans to make available 839 FM channels in 294 cities in the third phase of expansion.The government hopes to receive revenue of about Rs 1,531.92 crore from the auction of new channels based on the reserve price.