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Entertainment Network , DB Corp, Reliance Broadcast, Music Broadcast, HT Media, and Rajasthan Patrika are among the winners in the auction for 97 FM radio channels.
After about a month long e-auctioning process, the government on Wednesday allocated frequencies to the winners of the first batch of the Private FM Phase III channels. The auctions have earned the government ₹1,157 crore.
The auction process also had its share of controversy with uncertainty on the participation of one of the big players, Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Group. When declaring the winners, the Ministry for Information and Broadcasting held back the results of the bids of Sun TV, South Asia FM and Kal Radio in compliance with the orders of the Madras High Court.
While revealing the results of two Sun Group entities — Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting and Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting — the Ministry said the government will file a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order that allowed the companies to participate. The two firms have won frequencies in markets like Mumbai, Jodhpur, and Srinagar.
Entertainment Network (India) Ltd, which operates Radio Mirchi, said the company has won 17 radio frequencies. “We will now have presence in seven new markets. At the same time, we have acquired second frequencies in nine cities,” said Prashant Panday, MD and CEO of ENIL.
Anil Ambani’s Reliance Broadcast Network that grabbed 14 new radio frequencies in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and the North-East, adding to its existing 45 station network, is looking at strengthening its position in the market. Tarun Katial, CEO, Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd, said, “We are also looking to migrate (from phase II to phase III) our presence in all metros, mini metros, and all key States for a further period of 15 years.”
Music Broadcast, which operates Radio City, said it won 11 frequencies. In a statement, Apurva Purohit, CEO – Radio City 91.1 FM said, “This increases our footprint across important cities in each State.”
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