INDIA POSTPONES GOVT AUCTION OF FM RADIO LICENCES FOR THE FOURTH TIME
January 1st 2008 07:37
India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has postponed the FM radio auctions for the fourth time in a row, and has now intimated that January 14 and January 24, 2008 will be the new dates.
According to exchange4media, sources said their applications were rejected on technical grounds and now the Ministry might take a re-look at some of the rejected applicants to give them a chance to participate in the bidding, especially after the High Court directive in the Radio Today case.
Exchange4media said, “The omissions in the current list of bidders include existing radio operators, Radio City and Radio Today. With the Phase III policies to be announced shortly, many operators feel that these bidding should be postponed to Phase III because then the policy would be clear, there would be a level playing field and the government would get more revenue.”
The bidding among the 27 short listed private FM radio companies was originally scheduled for November 12 and November 26, 2007, but was cancelled just five days before the bidding. The bidding process requires eligible companies to quote three amounts for every vacant station (license) in the form of bank drafts. The highest financial bid will win the frequency. An initial payment of 50 percent of the bid amount has to be made at the time of receiving the letter of intent soon after the bidding.
- From MediaBlab
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