New Delhi: In a significant move to boost FM radio reach across India, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has released the Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) for private broadcasters shortlisted under Phase III, Batch III of the FM radio expansion programme. This step paves the way for the online auctions, which are scheduled to begin later this month and will cover 730 FM channels across 234 cities.
Approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024, this third batch of e-auctions carries a reserve price of ₹784.87 crore. The Ministry invited applications in October 2023 and later amended the auction rules in April 2024 to extend each bidding round from 30 to 60 minutes, allowing participants more time for informed decision-making. So far, over 20 companies have submitted bids, and 19 have been pre-qualified to compete for frequencies, largely across Tier-II and Tier-III markets. Leading networks such as DB Corp, HT Media, ENIL (Radio Mirchi), and Sapphire Media are among the key contenders.
Addressing the Broadcast Engineering Society Expo on Thursday, I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju noted that the private FM radio sector is showing strong signs of growth. “There are a lot of gains being made in private FM radio. The auctions are slated to start this month, and I’m confident they will see strong participation,” he said.
The GOPA document, now available on the Ministry’s website, outlines the legal, financial, and operational terms for successful bidders. Each permission granted will be valid for 15 years from the date the channel becomes operational. Broadcasters must sign the agreement within six months of receiving the Letter of Intent (LOI), failing which the allotment may be cancelled. Permissions are non-transferable without prior approval from the Ministry. Financial obligations include furnishing a Performance Bank Guarantee, in line with the terms set out in the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA).
Operationally, all stations must commence broadcasting within 18 months of signing the GOPA. Broadcasters are also required to establish or share Common Transmission Infrastructure (CTI) in accordance with government guidelines. On the content front, licensees must adhere to the Programme and Advertisement Codes, and the broadcast of news and current affairs content is prohibited unless specifically authorised.
This phase of the FM expansion is expected to significantly improve radio penetration in semi-urban and rural parts of the country, while opening up new business opportunities for private broadcasters.
