FM radio broadcasting policy relaxes recasting and ownership norms

The centre has also accepted the long pending demand of the radio industry to remove the 15% national cap on channel holding

The government has approved amendments to some provisions in the “Policy guidelines on expansion of FM radio broadcasting services through private agencies (Phase-III)”, referred to as the "Private FM phase-III policy guidelines".

The provisions that prescribed a three-year window for restructuring of FM radio permissions within the same management group during a licence period of 15 years have been removed, the government said. The Centre has also accepted the long-standing demand of the radio industry to remove the 15 per cent national cap on channel holding. Previously, no company was entitled to own more than 15 per cent of the