Government likely to
carry out Phase III
expansion of FM radio
expansion of FM radio
NEW DELHI: Government
intends to carry out Phase III expansion of FM radio hopefully in the current
financial year to rake in more revenue, Information and Broadcasting Minister
Arun Jaitley said today.
The I and B ministry
and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) are considering aspects
related to this process, he said.
"Some aspects are
being considered between the I&B ministry and the regulator. And I'll like
to see that happen quite early.
"If I could have
my way, it should be in this financial year because I now speak in both
capacities. March 31, and some more revenue to the government has some
relevance to me," said Jaitley, whose primary charge in the government is
that of Finance Minister.
"Besides doing
things expeditiously which is one good reason, I have an additional reason to
do it fast. And I can't be more candid," he added apparently referring to
the next budget.
The minister was
interacting with PTI journalists at the agency's headquarters when he was asked
about the status of the much-awaited proposed auction of Phase III expansion of
FM Radio channels.
Under phase III, more
than 800 new FM radio channels are proposed to be allowed to come up in nearly
294 cities across the country.
Asked about the
proposal to allow broadcast of news on private FM radio stations, he said,
"Let me consider this at length."
He gave a similar
reply when asked about justification for moves to allow broadcast of news on
private FM stations based on what was being broadcast by AIR FM station
bulletins which themselves were largely based on news provided by agencies like
PTI.
At the interaction,
Jaitley was asked about his being given the unusual combination of Finance and
I and B portfolios in the recent reshuffle.
The minister, who held
the I and B portfolio 15 years ago under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said it had come
to him "as a bit of information, if not surprise".
He dwelt at length
about the change in the media scene ever since, including the explosion of
television media and the advent of social media with technology.
Jaitley said a lot of
the role of the I and B ministry is about communication of the government,
especially when important political decisions are taken or important political
debates or controversies arise.
"So they needed
somebody to communicate on behalf of the government. So this probably would
have weighed with the Prime Minister. May have weighed....I don't know,"
he said.
Asked as to what is
the Modi government's approach to media, whether it considers it as a necessary
evil or a pillar of democracy, however, flawed, Jaitley, "I don't think
evil or flawed is the correct word.
"If newspapers do
not come out for a day, like on a festival day, the average Indian feels lost
in the morning. I don't think flawed or evil is the real word. I think it
is an essential component in a democracy. It is an essential element in a
democracy."
He was asked about
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent outreach to journalists in the capital
and promise of more interactions.
"In the first
place, why was he (Modi) upset with the media," was the question to the
minister.
Jaitley replied he did not think 'upset' is the right word. As a party functionary, Modi had come to Delhi from Gujarat and in the late 90s, he used to deal with media everyday along with him.
Jaitley replied he did not think 'upset' is the right word. As a party functionary, Modi had come to Delhi from Gujarat and in the late 90s, he used to deal with media everyday along with him.
"He's had his own
experiences with the media as everybody else has had. I think, he's also learnt
that does media lay down the agenda and politicians respond to it or
politicians lay down the agenda and media reports it," the minister said.
Asked what was the
conclusion about Modi's choice, he quipped, "I think it's the
second."
To a question about
what he thought about a proposal to expand the ambit of the Press Council
of India (PCI) by including electronic channels and renaming it Media Council,
he said, "I am not saying that Press Council hasn't functioned well. But
the last several years have not really added....I would say, to the authority
of the Press Council itself."
On whether he was in
favour of a proposal to turn PCI into a Media council, he said such
"drastic steps" are taken only if there is a menace. "The system
is working fairly well," he added.
Speaking about public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, Jaitley said the news programmes of Doordarshan cannot afford to have "TRP centric shrillness", an apparent reference to the way programmes were being conducted in private channels.
Speaking about public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, Jaitley said the news programmes of Doordarshan cannot afford to have "TRP centric shrillness", an apparent reference to the way programmes were being conducted in private channels.
He, however, added
that in his view, both the entertainment and news content of Doordarshan can
find a quality response to the present situation.
"The shrillness
of the private news channels actually gives to the print media an opportunity
to strike back. Because the volume of news is getting lost. That I have created
this news today and therefore must build it over the next three days, that's
policy of a private channel.
"So conventional
news, in which there will be forty news items....so why can't Prasar Bharati
news channels go in and look for that space. After all what does the BBC
do," the I&B minister said.
He said that there is
a space for Prasar Bharati to get back to that role and though it may have a
lesser audience to start off, but it will be a niche audience.
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