FM Phase III e-auctions begin tdy - RED FM to participate

In a special court session held yesterday, 26th July 2015, Delhi High Court, quashed the case against Digital Radio Broadcasting Ltd which runs RED FM. The station, therefore, can take part in the first batch of e-auctions for FM Phase III starting today, 27th July 2015.

As is known, the Central Government had denied security clearance to the radio channel on July 15, 2015 and also rejected its application for permission to take part in stage three of FM auctions.

The court, as per the reports, held a special session on a Sunday, as I&B Ministry had expressed its inability to defer the auctions.

RED FM is elated, as expressed by Nisha Narayanan, COO, RED FM in an official communique, ‘The Hon’ble Court has pronounced only the operating portion of the judgement. We feel that the Hon’ble court has accepted our submission that we have no connection with the reasons for denial of security clearance and rejection of our application.’ She added, “We are one of country’s largest network of FM stations and hopefully post the final outcome of these auctions we shall retain our leadership status.  From the beginning we had kept sizeable money to be spent on these auctions. Our inclusion means a healthy competition and will benefit the entire FM radio industry and media and entertainment industry at large.”

The communique stated that it would go ahead with the philosophy of nurturing not only commercially viable bigger metro cities but also reaching out to the last corner of the country. The release shared by the station stated, “RED FM not only reached to some of the smaller cities but also gave the local music and entertainment industry a voice. It always believed in being a socially active and relevant entertainment medium, creating employment opportunities for local youth specially women and become a voice of city wherever it operates its station.”

As is known the first batch of phase III auctions is for 135 channels in the existing 69 cities of Phase II where vacant/additional channels of Phase II are available.

Number of channels as per the category of cities is as follows:
1. Category A+ cities 9 Channels
2. Category A Cities 6 Channels
3. Category B Cities 4 Channels
4.   Category C Cities 4 Channels
5.  Category D Cities and Cities with Population less than one Lakhs 3 Channels
As has been reported earlier, 28 companies had submitted applications for the first batch of e-auction.  These applicants included: Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd, DB Corp. Ltd, Shahi Shipping Ltd, AM Television Pvt Ltd, Odisha Television Ltd, Pratidin FM Pvt Ltd, Next Radio Ltd, Pudhari Publications Pvt Ltd, Venus Autoworks Pvt Ltd, Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd, Renderlive Films and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Entertainment Network (India) Ltd.Music Broadcast Pvt ltd, Abhijit Realtors & Infraventures Pvt Ltd, HT Media Ltd, Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd, Sarthak Films Pvt Ltd, Embassy Nirman Pvt Ltd, Malar Publications Ltd, Nirmal Sagar Buildcon Pvt Ltd, Kal Radio Ltd, South Asia FM Ltd, Sun TV Network Ltd, Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd, Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting Ltd, Abir Buildcon Pvt Ltd, Remi Overseas Pvt Ltd and Sunplant Broadcasting Pvt Ltd.