| The FM space in the eastern region is becoming hotter.
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| After FM brands like Radio Mirchi of Times group and Red FM of India Today, the Maran family controlled Sun TV, one of the leading regional channel in southern India, is entering the FM mart in eastern region with a splash.
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| Sun TV hit the headlines for its attempt to enter the eastern Indian market by taking over RPG cable TV operations in Kolkata, which was later denied by the company.
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| This time, Sun TV said it planned to start FM stations in 14 towns in eastern region spreading over 11 states in the region.
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| The group has already acquired the licences to start FM stations in all the 14 towns of the region.
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| It was in the process to signing the final agreement with Prashar Bharati.
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| A Sun group official confirmed that the group had drawn p major expansion plans for its FM business.
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| The Sun group currently had three FM stations in Chennai, Coimbatore and Tirunelvelli.
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| Sun submitted bids for licences in 84 cities through two subsidiaries called South Asia FM and Kal Radio.
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| "We have got 67 licences. Now the group will start FM operation in at least 46 of them. The agreement with Prashar Bharati will be signed by May," the official said.
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| According to the official, Sun group was likely to start FM operation in Asansol and Siliguri in West Bengal, Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, Guwahati in Assam, Rourkela in Orissa, Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, Agartala in Tripura, Gangtok in Sikkim, Aizawl in Mizoram, Imphal in Manipur, Itanagar in Arunachal, Kohima in Nagaland, Shillong in Meghalaya and Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
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| Incidentally, these towns are spreading over seven northeastern states, Sikkim, West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Maran family controlled group would start the FM operation in east through South Asia FM.
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| Kal FM mostly owns licenses in south and north India.
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| "We do not know when we could roll out FM in east because that depends on other technicalities like studio and machineries," the official added.
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| According to him, the group would invest Rs 233 crore for expansion of FM operations.
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| "We have estimate Rs 183 crore for setting up studios and Rs 50 crore is earmarked for pre operative expenses," he added. |
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