Govt may allow pvt radios to broadcast agency news

Private radio channels may be able to broadcast news sourced from agencies like PTI and UNI if the government accepts their long pending request to allow them to do so.       

FM radio broadcasters have been demanding that they should be allowed to use news provided by the agencies in their bulletins.       

"The matter is still under consideration," according to a  top official of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.      

The demand, being considered by the ministry, could form a part of the phase-III roll out of FM radio stations bidding.       

The phase-III of FM radio stations bidding would be rolled out as soon as the government settles the financial problems and royalty issues facing several bidders of the second phase.       

 

At present, there are around 100 FM radio channels in the country and a number of private companies have applied for licence to launch new channels.