The Broadcast Regulator (TRAI) has more or less endorsed the I&B ministry's views on their recommendations, including the ministry's suggestion that only AIR & DD news should be carried by private radio channels. If you remember, TRAI had originally recommended that news from any 'authorized' source, including news agencies like PTI and UNI, as well as private TV channels, should be allowed on FM radio.
TRAI now says, "The views of the Government are acceptable to the Authority to begin with. Expansion of sources for content may be considered after three years. The categorization of content to be treated as non-news and current affairs broadcast is acceptable to the Authority. The scope of content to be treated as non-news and current affairs broadcast may be enlarged after a period of three years after reviewing the experience." TRAI's response is available here: http://www.trai.gov.in/WritereadData/trai/upload/Recommendations/103/recom28nov08.pdf Sajan -------------------------------------------------------- TRAI endorses govt views on FM radio Economic Times, 28 Nov, 2008 NEW DELHI: Telecom and Broadcast regulator TRAI on Friday endorsed the government's views of limiting the news and current affairs for FM radio and has said that the same may be reviewed after three years. "The categorisation of content to be treated as non-news and current affairs broadcast is acceptable to TRAI. The scope of such content may be enlarged after three years," TRAI said. The government has conveyed its views on FM Phase III policy to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and sought its recommendations on this issue. No news and current affairs programmes are permitted under the existing FM broadcasting policy. The information and broadcasting ministry recently amended the All India Radio Code allowing political advertisements on AIR and FM radio. The advertisements will be screened by a committee set up by the Election Commission before they are cleared for broadcasting. TRAI has conveyed its acceptance to continue city level licensing in the largerinterests of expediting the process. It has also strongly reiterated its earlier recommendations for removing the ceiling limit ownership of 15 per cent of the total permitted in FM radio stationsin the country by any permission holder. While accepting the government's views on allowing restructuring before the start of FM radio broadcasting, TRAI has reiterated its views on restrictions on changein ownership after the start of FM radio broadcasting. TRAI has also accepted the views of the government for continuingwith the currentthe level of floor price for the bids. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Media__Entertainment_/Media/TRAI_endorses_govt_views_on_FM_radio/rssarticleshow/3770471.cms _______________________________________________ cr-india mailing list [email protected] https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/cr-india
