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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:3383
ANSWERED ON:12.12.2014
FM CHANNELS
Birla Shri Om;Chinnayan Shri S.Selvakumara;Pathak Smt. Riti
Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Frequency Modulation (FM) Radio Stations targeted to be set up during the 11thFive Year Plan along with
achievement made in this regard, State/ UT-wise;
(b) the existing policy on expansion of FM radio broadcasting services including the general and financialcriteria for the purpose;
(c) the names of cities in variousStateswhere FM radio broadcasts are on air, atpresent, State/UT-wise;
(d) whether the Governmentproposesto start FM radio broadcasts from the cities which are not yet covered by the FM radio and if so,
the details thereof, place, State/UT-wise; and
(e) the revenue being earned by the Government through AM and FM channels during the last year and the current year?
Answer
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE
(Retd.))
(a) PrasarBharati has informed that total 287 nos. of FM Radio Stationsincluding 100 Watt FM Relay Stations were targeted to be set
up during the 11th Five year Plan throughout the country. State/UTs-wise details along with achievements are given in Annexure-l.
(b) As regards AIR FM, initially FM Radio Station were set up in all metro cities in the country. Later, FM Radio Stations and FM Relay
transmitters were set up in smaller cities in the country.
In view of increased popularity of FM radio service due to superior stereophonic sound quality and noise free coverage during day
and night and availability of low cost receiver sets,AIR has now decided to set up FM Radio Stations/ Relay Stations in the country for
relaying local programme as well as popular channels of AIR like VividhBharati, AIR FM Gold and Rainbow.
As regardsexpansion of FM services through private agencies, the policy guidelines for the same (Phase-ll) provided a revenue
sharing regime instead of a fixed fee regime along with some other changes. Government has approved the policy guidelines on
expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting Services through private agencies (Phase-lll) in July, 2011 under this policy permission for FM
Radio Channel will be awarded through ascending e-auction, as followed by the Department of Telecom for the auction of 3-G and
BWA Spectrum as recommended by the Group of Ministers on Licensing Methodology for FM Phase-ll.
(c) Presently, AIR FM Radio Broadcast is being provided from 373 cities in the country. State/UT-wise details are given in Annexure-ll.
At present 243 private FM Radio Stations are functioning in the country under the policy on expansion of FM Radio Broadcasting
Services through privateagencies. The State- wise details are given Annexure-lll.
(d) Yes, Madam. Scheme for setting up of 214 newAlR Stations (105 under Continuing Scheme + 109 under New Scheme) including
100 Watt FM Relay Stations has been approved in the 12th Plan. State-wise details are given in Annexure-IV(A) and (8).
Government also proposes to e-auction 839 channels in 294 cities/towns as of now, under the Policy Guidelines for expansion of FM
Radio broadcasting services through private agencies (Phase-lll). A list of proposed State/UT-wise private FM radio channels are at
Annexure-V.
(e) Details of revenue being earned by the Government and PrasarBharatithrough AM and FM channels during the last year and the
current year are as under:
PrasarBharati
Year Revenue earned
2013-14 Rs. 455.78 Cr.
Current year Rs. 211.07 Cr.
(till October 2014)
Details of Revenue Received from Private FM Radio operator
S.No. Private FM Broadcaster Amount
1. License Fee Received in 2013-2014 Rs.102.19 Cr.
2. License Fee Received in 2014-15 Rs.6.09 Cr.
(upto 31.10.2014)