Govt to liberalise norms for community radio projects

New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) The government today said that it has decided to further liberalise norms for setting up community radio projects as the third arm of the radio policy, that includes AIR and FM radio channels, to revolutionise the air waves and make radio entertaining, socially relevant and commercially viable.

''We are waiting for the results of the Phase-II policy and after a due process of consultation with the stakeholders, will tweak the policy and then go for Phase-III of the radio policy,'' said Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary SK Arora while inaugurating the seminar on 'Indian Radio Industry: The way forward' here.

He said competition to AIR from private FM radio channels had led to losses to the government but expressed confidence that this would force the station to provide quality programmes and the available infrastructure would enable them to withstand competition.

In Phase-II, the number of radio stations is expected to jump from 20 to 270 by the end of the current fiscal year, he said.

Industry chamber Ficci announced that the radio industry is expected to touch Rs 1,200 crore by 2010, representing a 32 per cent growth against 19 per cent expected growth of the entire media industry.

The radio industry stood at Rs 240 crore in 2004.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Member AK Sawhney said that while the process of roll-out of services by Phase-II licence is currently on, what is increasingly becoming clear is that the spectrum that was so far lying unutilized has the potential to allow a much greater variety in the offering of radio.

He said the focus of TRAI has been to expand the markets, provide room for more services and more competition and to allow new technology to come in without fresh approvals being taken at every stage.

The most important factor being considered is to reduce the cost of licences and spectrum and also to push the industry towards a low price-high growth scenario.

The focus of changes in the policy for Phase-III should be in tune with this approach, Mr Sawhney added.

UNI KR CS KP1759