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NEW
DELHI: Even as Information and Broadcasting minister Priyaranjan
Dasmunsi has expressed annoyance at television news channels
airing entertainment, the ministry has taken umbrage to private
FM channels airing news snippets and current affairs in violation
of rules.
In
a press release, the ministry notes, "These violations
have been viewed very seriously by the Ministry" and
advised all concerned parties to refrain from any such activities,
which are in violation of terms and conditions of FM license.
The
carriage of news snippets and current affairs violates the
provisions, which have been incorporated in clause 1.4 and
23.4 of Grant of Permission Agreement signed by private operators
with the Government.
According
to the present FM Radio policy, news and current affairs are
the sole domain of All India Radio and should not be broadcast
by private FM channels in any manner.
Earlier
in June, the Radio Forum of the Federation of Indian Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) had urged that private FM
radio channels should be permitted to broadcast news and current
affairs in addition to entertainment programmes.
In
a memorandum submitted to the Information and Broadcasting
ministry, the Ficci Radio Forum headed by ENIL MD A P Parigi
said there was need to create level-playing policies for both
satellite radio and FM Radio. The release of more frequencies
in all markets and multiple ownership was required as well
as tradability of licenses, besides allowing foreign direct
investment in radio broadcasting.
Meanwhile,
a total of 164 private FM radio stations are expected to go
on air by the end of the year. After the new policy of expansion
of FM broadcasting through private operators had been notified
on 13 July 2005, 337 channels in 91 cities including 217 channels
of class-C and class-D cities were put on bid. Out of these,
agreements were signed with successful bidders for 139 channels
in 57 cities.
At
present, a total of 263 FM channels include 161 of All India
Radio and 102 privately owned channels are operational. These
include 21 operationalised under the Phase I scheme.
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