Govt. may allow Private FM channels to air news

[Pintu]

Private FM channels may be allowed to broadcast news - India Business - Business - NEWS - The Times of India

Private FM channels may be allowed to broadcast news
IANS 29 August 2009, 07:23pm IST

NEW DELHI: Private radio channels may be allowed to broadcast news sourced from news agencies in phase III of FM radio, expected to start towards end of the year.

"The issue is under active consideration. The modalities will have to be discussed," a source in the information and broadcasting ministry said on Saturday.

The source said phase III of FM radio will be started after resolving issues relating to royalty for music with those operators which bid for phase II.

No decision on news broadcast on FM channels has been taken, the source said. The radio operators have been demanding for long that they be allowed to broadcast news.

If the ministry clears the proposal, the FM stations can source their news broadcasts from news bulletins of Doordarshan and All India Radio that use news from authorized news agencies besides generating their own news from their network of correspondents.

There are around 100 FM radio channels in the country and a number of private companies have applied for a licence to launch new channels.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/254409_Govt-may-allow-pvt-radio-s-to-broadcast-agency-news

Govt may allow pvt radio's to broadcast agency news

STAFF WRITER 13:24 HRS IST



New Delhi, Aug 29 (PTI) Private radio channels may be able to broadcast news sourced from agencies like PTI and UNI if the government accepts their long pending request to allow them to do so.

FM radio broadcasters have been demanding that they should be allowed to use news provided by the agencies in their bulletins.

"The matter is still under consideration," according to a top official of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

The demand, being considered by the ministry, could form a part of the phase-III roll out of FM radio stations bidding.

The phase-III of FM radio stations bidding would be rolled out as soon as the government settles the financial problems and royalty issues facing several bidders of the second phase.

 

[Pintu]

Indiantelevision.com > News Headlines > Govt to defer Phase III of FM radio till fixing of royalty issues

Govt to defer Phase III of FM radio till fixing of royalty issues​

By BB NAGPAL
Indiantelevision.com Team

(28 August 2009 7:50 pm)​

NEW DELHI: The Phase III of FM radio expansion has been deferred to resolve certain issues primarily relating to royalty for music.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources said the issue had already been taken up with the Human Resource Ministry which administers the Copyright Act.

The sources clarified to indiantelevision.com that the channels that had been licensed in Phase II had complained that they were unable to break even primarily because of the huge royalty they were forced to pay to the music companies.

The methodology of fixing royalty will be discussed, particularly as to the basis on which the royalty payment should be fixed.

The source also confirmed that the issue of permitting news on private FM Radio channels was also under consideration.

While the I&B Ministry wanted that the news, if permitted, should be taken from Prasar Bharati (All India Radio), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) as well as Ficci had insisted on news agencies being the source of news.

The third phase is expected to cover a total of 92 cities, according to the plan drawn up by Trai.

FM Radio broadcasting was first launched in the country in 1999 and subsequently 21 private channels became operational.

Based on the popularity of FM Radio among the masses, the Government offered 337 new channels for bidding by private agencies covering additional cities and towns in Phase–II in July 2005. As a result, Letters of Intent (LOI) for 245 channels were issued.

 

[Pintu]

FM Radio Seeking Government Consent to Broadcast News | Ub News


FM Radio Seeking Government Consent to Broadcast News

By: Hema Manchanda Category: National, Science & Tech

Good news for all the radio listeners. People who love to hear the news and want to know what is going out globally? All of them might able to hear the news sourced from news agencies in near future.

On Saturday an Indication has came from a source in the information and broadcasting ministry, according to which it is expected that may be private radio channels will soon endorse to broadcast news sourced from various active news agencies in phase III of FM radio. From a long time the Private FM radio broadcasters have been urging to air the news bulletins.

The source has revealed the fact that now the government is serious about taking a quick step onto their demand. If the ministry accept the proposal, the FM stations can source their news broadcasts from news bulletins of Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) that use news from authorized news agencies besides generating their own news from their network of correspondents.

Currently there are more than 100 FM radio channels in force and a large number applications of private companies are pending before the ministry for license to launch new radio channels.The All India Radio or Akashvani, which is well thought out as governments voice at many times, is the sole news broadcaster among the radio channels in the country. The permission to private FM to air the news would break the monotony of the Akashvani.