Saturday, 31 May 2014

Govt mulling to allow news broadcast on private FMs: Prakash Javadekar - Times of India

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MUMBAI: Union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said that the Centre is considering allowing privately-owned FM radio channels to start their own news broadcast.

"Why should FM channels be banned from broadcasting news? The Centre is considering allowing privately-owned FM radio channels to start their own news broadcast," Javadekar said here. "The auction of FM radios has already entered its third phase. We will issue the guidelines in this connection shortly ," he said. The move is likely to benefit over two dozen private FM channels that are operational in the country at present, many of them owned by established media houses.


Javadekar said his ministry is also seeking inputs from various stakeholders on whether to allow 100% FDI in news media. "The Centre is currently busy collecting views of various stakeholders in connection with the issue of allowing 100% FDI in news media," Javadekar told reporters here.


"We want to take the views of all the stakeholders before we take a final decision if we should give a go-ahead for the 100% FDI in news media. We are not in a hurry to go for the same," he added. Currently , FDI is allowed only up to 26% in news and current affairs media while 100% FDI is allowed in non-news media like a trade publication and general entertainment channel. On the issue of paid news, Javadekar said a meeting of council of ministers will be held shortly to discuss the matter.


The government is in favour of getting the remaining part of the digitization of TV cables completed through the domestically manufactured set-top boxes (STB), rather than depending on the neighbouring country China for the same, he said.


According to the minister, digitization of four crore TV sets across the country has already been completed.


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