MIB invites applicants for FM Radio Phase III auctions

The Government of India (the “Government”), through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (“MIB”), has decided to open up Phase-III of FM Radio Broadcasting to private participation with the objectives of attracting private agencies to supplement and complement the efforts of All India Radio by operationalizing radio stations that provide programmes with local content and relevance, improve the quality of fidelity in reception and generation, encouraging local talent and generating employment, by means of ascending e-auction for first batch of FM Phase-III Radio Channels.

The first batch of FM Phase-III comprises of 135 channels in 69 existing cities of Phase-II.

The Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending e-auction process will be carried out for allotting the FM channels (the "Auction").

On behalf of the President of India, applications are invited from prospective bidders who meet the eligibility criteria to submit applications for participating in the Auction (the “Applications”).

Based on the Applications, the Government shall pre-qualify Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria for participation in the Auction.

The Government reserves the right to summarily disqualify any pre-qualified Bidder, at any stage of the Auction or after the Auction is completed on grounds of noncompliance with eligibility conditions, misrepresentation, non-compliance with the Auction Rules, non-compliance with any other pre-condition prescribed for participating in the Auction or for getting the FM channel, or any matter that may, in the opinion of the Government, be contrary to general public interest.

Ministry has placed a copy of the FM Phase-III Policy Guidelines dated 25.07.2011 along with its amended paragraph 31 dated 21.01.2015 (together the “Policy”) on the MIB website. The permission holders under Phase-III shall be governed by the Policy, as amended from time to time.

The provisions set out in this Notice (or any other applicable laws, regulations or other statutory provisions) are definitive and take precedence.

The Government has set itself the following objectives for the Auction:
 Obtain a market determined price of FM Radio channels through a transparent, fair & impartial process;
 Stimulate competition in the sector;
 Promote rollout of FM broadcast services to increase FM broadcast coverage.

The Government reserves the right to cancel or postpone the Auction, in part or in full at any stage, without assigning any reasons, in order to safeguard the above objectives.

The Government has the sole discretion to determine the relative priority of the objectives and whether the objectives are adequately safeguarded by the Auction.

The Government further reserves the right to abandon the Auction at any time prior to the allotment of channels as it may deem fit without giving any reason whatsoever.

The MIB has issued a draft which gives all other additional information in detail.

Media
@adgully

News in the domain of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Business of Entertainment

More in Media