[HCDX] GOVT PLANS THIRD PHASE OF FM PRIVATISATION

[Mukesh Kumar <thecosmosclub@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

GOVT PLANS THIRD PHASE OF FM PRIVATISATION

Friday, 17 February , 2006 

New Delhi: After the successful second phase of FM
radio privatisation, the Government plans to put on
offer additional frequencies in 70 or more cities. 

S.K. Arora, Secretary, Information and Broadcasting
Ministry, said, "We are looking at coming out with a
third phase of bidding for private FM radio, which may
see frequencies being sold in about 60-70 B, C and D
cities, apart from some in A cities." During the
second phase, the Government sold around 280 radio
stations in about 90 cities generating revenues of
about Rs 1,100 crore. 
The official also said that the Government is erecting
new towers and also enhancing capacity on existing
ones to provide co-location facilities for private
players on Prasar Bharati's infrastructure. As per the
norms, the Government had approved the co-location of
Common Transmission Infrastructure, consisting of
antenna, cable, combiners, buildings, power supply,
water supply etc. | 
The Government has finalised a draft Broadcast
Regulation Bill and will initiate the consultation
process soon, said Arora at the Commonwealth
Broadcasting Association conference. Asked whether the
Bill could be tabled in the Budget session of the
Parliament, he said the Government was making efforts
to finalise it as early as possible. 
The proposed legislation would try to regulate
content, define existing uplinking and downlinking
guidelines and licensing procedures. "We propose to
take the liberal perspective even further by
introducing legislation which would facilitate
self-regulation," the official added. The Government
is also considering to introduce "public service
broadcasting obligation" which would be applicable to
private broadcasters. 
"Of late, the private broadcasters have also started
doing public service broadcasting and the Government
is considering whether the roles of public broadcaster
Prasar Bharati and the private players can be
converged in due course," he added. 
Content sharing: Prasar Bharati has written to private
sports broadcasters for sharing of content. "As the
new tender (floated by the Board of Cricket Control in
India) allots both satellite and terrestrial rights to
one single entity, we have written letters to private
broadcasters ESPN-Star Sports, Ten Sports, Zee and
Sony seeking agreement for content sharing," K.S.
Sarma, CEO, Prasar Bharati, said. 
The national broadcaster has offered to share the
revenue in a 25:75 ratio with the rights holder.
Via www.sify.com

Regards & 73?s
Mukesh Kumar
MUZAFFARPUR 
INDIA.




		
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