[cr-india] "TRAI endorses govt views on FM radio"

[sajan venniyoor]

The Broadcast Regulator (TRAI) has more or less endorsed the I&B
ministry's views on their recommendations, including the ministry's
suggestion that only AIR & DD news should be carried by private radio
channels. If you remember, TRAI had originally recommended that news
from any 'authorized' source, including news agencies like PTI and
UNI, as well as private TV channels, should be allowed on FM radio.

TRAI now says, "The views of the Government are acceptable to the
Authority to begin with. Expansion of sources for content may be
considered after three years. The categorization of content to be
treated as non-news and current affairs broadcast is acceptable to the
Authority. The scope of content to be treated as non-news and current
affairs broadcast may be enlarged after a period of three years after
reviewing the experience."

TRAI's response is available here:
http://www.trai.gov.in/WritereadData/trai/upload/Recommendations/103/recom28nov08.pdf

Sajan
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TRAI endorses govt views on FM radio
Economic Times, 28 Nov, 2008

NEW DELHI: Telecom and Broadcast regulator TRAI on Friday endorsed the
government's views of limiting the news and current affairs for FM
radio and has said that the same may be reviewed after three years.

"The categorisation of content to be treated as non-news and current
affairs broadcast is acceptable to TRAI. The scope of such content may
be enlarged after three years," TRAI said.

The government has conveyed its views on FM Phase III policy to the
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and sought its
recommendations on this issue.

No news and current affairs programmes are permitted under the
existing FM broadcasting policy.

The information and broadcasting ministry recently amended the All
India Radio Code allowing political advertisements on AIR and FM
radio. The advertisements will be screened by a committee set up by
the Election Commission before they are cleared for broadcasting.

TRAI has conveyed its acceptance to continue city level licensing in
the largerinterests of expediting the process.

It has also strongly reiterated its earlier recommendations for
removing the ceiling limit ownership of 15 per cent of the total
permitted in FM radio stationsin the country by any permission holder.

While accepting the government's views on allowing restructuring
before the start of FM radio broadcasting, TRAI has reiterated its
views on restrictions on changein ownership after the start of FM
radio broadcasting.

TRAI has also accepted the views of the government for continuingwith
the currentthe level of floor price for the bids.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Media__Entertainment_/Media/TRAI_endorses_govt_views_on_FM_radio/rssarticleshow/3770471.cms