Lok Sabha Question No. 87 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-04
Subject: Auction of FM Radio Channels
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI, R. VANAROJA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.87 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2015

## AUCTION OF FM RADIO CHANNELS

*87:

SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

SHRIMATI VANAROJA R;

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the auction of first batch of FM radio Phase-IIl has been completed;
- (b) if so, the details and the present status thereof along with the cities for which the e-auction was carried out and the total bid amount received, city-wise;
- (c) the number of frequencies remained unsold and the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the  quoted auction prices are as per the   expectation of the Government; if so, the details thereof and the future plan chalked out for the auction of FM radio keeping in view the present auction strategy and determination of prices; and
- (e) whether irregularities have been reported during e-auction process of FM channels, if so, the reasons therefor and the auction taken in the matter?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE; MINISTER OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS; AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY):

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

******

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015

The e-auction of first batch of private FM radio phase-IIl comprising 135 channels in 69 Phase-Il existing cities (Annexure-I) commenced on 27th 2015 and completed on 9th September; 2015 after 125 rounds of bidding: wise successful bidders and associated   frequency   spots along with successful bid amount i.e. Non-Refundable One Time Entry Fee (NOTEF) under e-auction of first batch of private FM radio Phase-III channels were Against total commitment of Rs.1055.9 crore notified on 16th  September, 2015 MIB has   received full payment by 1st October, 2015. July, City

Out of 135 channels put for auction during first batch, no bid was received for 38 channels across 22 cities. No bid received in 13 cities having 26 channels and partial bids received in 9 cities thereby 12 channels remained unsold. This is due to the demand supply based market economics and bidder's strategy:

Against the cumulative reserve price of Rs.550.18 crore for 135 channels, government received aggregate provisional commitment of Rs.1156.9 crore for 97 channels in 56 cities  Out of 97 channels, 53 channels in 35 cities were sold at a premium over reserve price whereas 44 channels in 21 cities Were sold at reserve price. MIB conducts e-auction of FM Radio Channels in batches as per the extant FM Phase-III No irregularity has been reported during e-auction of first batch. Policy.

| ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| FM Phase-III for 135 channels in 69 cities                                                                           | FM Phase-III for 135 channels in 69 cities                                                                           | FM Phase-III for 135 channels in 69 cities                                                                           | FM Phase-III for 135 channels in 69 cities                                                                           |
| Existing Phase-Il Cities (69 nos )                                                                                   | Existing Phase-Il Cities (69 nos )                                                                                   | Existing Phase-Il Cities (69 nos )                                                                                   | Existing Phase-Il Cities (69 nos )                                                                                   |
| S. No.                                                                                                               | Name of City                                                                                                         | State                                                                                                                | No. of Channels for Auction                                                                                          |
| a                                                                                                                    | b                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                      | d                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                      | Category "At"                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |
|                                                                                                                      | Chennai                                                                                                              | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                      |
|                                                                                                                      | Delhi                                                                                                                | Delhi                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                      |
| 3                                                                                                                    | Mumbai                                                                                                               | Maharashtra                                                                                                          | 2                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                      | Category A                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |
| 4                                                                                                                    | Ahmedabad                                                                                                            | Gujarat                                                                                                              |                                                                                                                      |
| 5                                                                                                                    | Bangalore                                                                                                            | Karnataka                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                      |
| 6                                                                                                                    | Hyderabad                                                                                                            | Telangana                                                                                                            | 4                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                      | Jaipur                                                                                                               | Rajasthan                                                                                                            | 1                                                                                                                    |
| 8                                                                                                                    | Kanpur                                                                                                               | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                        | 3                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                      | Lucknow                                                                                                              | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                        | 3                                                                                                                    |
| 10                                                                                                                   | Nagpur                                                                                                               | Maharashtra                                                                                                          | 2                                                                                                                    |
| 11                                                                                                                   | Pune                                                                                                                 | Maharashtra                                                                                                          | 2                                                                                                                    |
| 12                                                                                                                   | Surat                                                                                                                | Gujarat                                                                                                              | 2                                                                                                                    |
|                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      | 19                                                                                                                   |
|                                                                                                                      | Category B"                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |
| 13                                                                                                                   | Amritsar                                                                                                             | Punjab                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                      |
| 14                                                                                                                   | Agra                                                                                                                 | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                        | 2                                                                                                                    |
| 15                                                                                                                   | Allahabad                                                                                                            | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                        | 2                                                                                                                    |
| 16                                                                                                                   | Asansol                                                                                                              | West Bengal                                                                                                          | 2                                                                                                                    |

| 17   | Cochin       | Kerala         |    |
|------|--------------|----------------|----|
| 18   | Jamshedpur   | Jharkhand      |    |
| 19   | Madurai      | Tamil Nadu     |    |
| 20   | Patna        | Bihar          | 3  |
| 21   | Rajkot       | Gujarat        |    |
| 22   | Varanasi     | Uttar Pradesh  | 1  |
| 23   | Vijayawada   | Andhra Pradesh | 2  |
|      |              |                | 17 |
|      | Category C"  |                |    |
| 24   | Ahmednagar   | Maharashtra    | 2  |
| 25   | Ajmer        | Rajasthan      | 2  |
| 26   | Akola        | Maharashtra    | 3  |
| 27   | Aligarh      | Uttar Pradesh  | 3  |
| 28   | Aurangabad   | Maharashtra    | 2  |
| 29   | Bareily      | Uttar Pradesh  | 2  |
| 30   | Bhubaneshwar | Orissa         | 1  |
| 31   | Bikaner      | Rajasthan      | 3  |
| 32   | Bilaspur     | Chhatisgarh    | 3  |
| 33   | Chandigarh   | Chandigarh/UT  | 2  |
| 34   | Dhule        | Maharashtra    | 3  |
| 35   | Gorakhpur    | Uttar Pradesh  | 3  |
| 36   | Gulbarga     | Karnataka      | 3  |
| 37   | Guwahati     | Assam          | 1  |
| 38   | Jalgaon      | Maharashtra    | 2  |
| 39   | Jammu        | Jek            | 3  |
| 40   | Jhansi       | Uttar Pradesh  | 3  |
| 41   | Jodhpur      | Rajasthan      | 1  |
| 42   | Kolhapur     | Maharashtra    | 2  |
| 43   | Kota         | Rajasthan      | 1  |
| 44   | Kozhikode    | Kerala         | 2  |
| 45   | Mangalore    | Karnataka      |    |
| 46   | Muzzaffarpur | Bihar          | 3  |
| 47   | Mysore       | Karnataka      | 2  |

| 48           | Nanded       | Maharashtra      | 3            |
|--------------|--------------|------------------|--------------|
| 49           | Nasik        | Maharashtra      | 2            |
| 50           | Patiala      | Punjab           |              |
| 51           | Pondicherry  | Pondicherry      | 1            |
| 52           | Rajamumdry*  | Andhra Pradesh   | 3            |
| 53           | Rourkela     | Orissa           | 2            |
| 54           | Sangli       | Maharashtra      | 2            |
| 55           | Sholapur     | Maharashtra      | 2            |
| 56           | Siliguri     | West Bengal      | 1            |
| 57           | Srinagar     | J&k              | 3            |
| 58           | Tiruchy      | Tamil Nadu       | 2            |
| 59           | Tirunelveli  | Tamil Nadu       | 2            |
| 60           | Tirupati     | Andhra Pradesh   | 2            |
| 61           | Tuticorin    | Tamil Nadu       | 2            |
| 62           | Udaipur      | Rajasthan        | 1            |
| 63           | Warangal     | Telangana        | 3            |
|              |              |                  | 85           |
|              | Category D"  |                  |              |
| 64           | Agartala     | Tripura          | 2            |
| 65           | Aizwal       | Mizoram          | 2            |
| 66           | Hissar       | Haryana          |              |
| 67           | Itanagar     | Arunchal Pradesh | 2            |
| 68           | Karnal       | Haryana          | 1            |
| 69           | Shillong     | Meghalaya        | 2            |
|              |              |                  | 10           |
| G. TOTAL 135 | G. TOTAL 135 | G. TOTAL 135     | G. TOTAL 135 |

| ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015   | ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 87 FOR ANSWER ON 04.12.2015   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No                                                                                                                | City Name                                                                                                            | Successful Bidder(s)                                                                                                 | Frequen cy spot selected (MHz)                                                                                       | Successful Bid amount(NOTEF Xin INR)                                                                                 |
| 1                                                                                                                    | Delhi                                                                                                                | HT Media Ltd                                                                                                         | 107.2                                                                                                                | 169,16,89,481                                                                                                        |
| 2                                                                                                                    | Mumbai                                                                                                               | HT Media Ltd                                                                                                         | 91.9                                                                                                                 | 122,81,31,349                                                                                                        |
| 2                                                                                                                    | Mumbai                                                                                                               | Digital Radio (Mumbai) Broadcasting Ltd                                                                              | 106.4                                                                                                                | 122,81,31,349                                                                                                        |
| 3                                                                                                                    | Ahmedabad                                                                                                            | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 104                                                                                                                  | 42,68,76,267                                                                                                         |
| 4                                                                                                                    | Bangalore                                                                                                            | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 95                                                                                                                   | 109,25,45,545                                                                                                        |
| 5                                                                                                                    | Hyderabad                                                                                                            | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 95                                                                                                                   | 18,00,00,000                                                                                                         |
| 5                                                                                                                    | Hyderabad                                                                                                            | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 104                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                      |
| 5                                                                                                                    | Hyderabad                                                                                                            | HT Media Ltd                                                                                                         | 94.3                                                                                                                 | 18,00,00,000                                                                                                         |
|                                                                                                                      | Jaipur                                                                                                               | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 104                                                                                                                  | 28,34,98.387                                                                                                         |
| 7                                                                                                                    | Kanpur                                                                                                               | HT Media Ltd                                                                                                         | 95                                                                                                                   | 8,00,55,000                                                                                                          |
| 7                                                                                                                    | Kanpur                                                                                                               | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 91.9                                                                                                                 | 8,00,55,000                                                                                                          |
| 7                                                                                                                    | Kanpur                                                                                                               | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                                                                                              | 104.8                                                                                                                | 8,00,55,000                                                                                                          |
| 8                                                                                                                    | Lucknow                                                                                                              | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd                                                                                       | 94.3                                                                                                                 | 14,00,55,000                                                                                                         |
| 8                                                                                                                    | Lucknow                                                                                                              | HT Media Ltd                                                                                                         | 104                                                                                                                  | 14,00,55,000                                                                                                         |
| 8                                                                                                                    | Lucknow                                                                                                              | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 107.2                                                                                                                | 14,00,55,000                                                                                                         |
| 9                                                                                                                    | Nagpur                                                                                                               | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd                                                                                       |                                                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      |
| 9                                                                                                                    | Nagpur                                                                                                               | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 92.7                                                                                                                 | 7,76,33,411 7,76,33,411                                                                                              |
| 10                                                                                                                   | Pune                                                                                                                 | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd                                                                                       | 95                                                                                                                   | 42,03,50,268                                                                                                         |
| 10                                                                                                                   | Pune                                                                                                                 | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      |                                                                                                                      | 42,03,50,268                                                                                                         |
| 11                                                                                                                   | Surat                                                                                                                | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 91.9                                                                                                                 | 3,60,00,000                                                                                                          |
| 12                                                                                                                   | Agra                                                                                                                 | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                                                                                            | 94.5                                                                                                                 | 2,56,00,050                                                                                                          |
| 12                                                                                                                   | Agra                                                                                                                 | HT Media Ltd                                                                                                         | 93.7                                                                                                                 | 2,56,00,050                                                                                                          |
| 13                                                                                                                   | Allahabad                                                                                                            | HT Media Ltd                                                                                                         | 94.3                                                                                                                 | 4,08,77,024                                                                                                          |
| 13                                                                                                                   | Allahabad                                                                                                            | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                                                                                            | 106.4                                                                                                                | 4,08,77,024                                                                                                          |
| 14                                                                                                                   | Cochin                                                                                                               | Entertainment Network India Ltd                                                                                      | 104                                                                                                                  | 15,04,83,548                                                                                                         |
| 15                                                                                                                   | Jamshedpur                                                                                                           | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                                                                                              | 91.1                                                                                                                 | 1,26,44,366                                                                                                          |
|                                                                                                                      | Madurai                                                                                                              | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                                                                                              | 91.9                                                                                                                 | 6,49,08,963                                                                                                          |
| 17                                                                                                                   | Patna                                                                                                                | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd                                                                                       | 95                                                                                                                   | 17,89,83,876                                                                                                         |
| 17                                                                                                                   | Patna                                                                                                                | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                                                                                              | 91.1                                                                                                                 | 17,89,83,876                                                                                                         |
| 18                                                                                                                   | Rajkot                                                                                                               | DB Corp Ltd                                                                                                          | 94.3                                                                                                                 | 6,08,08,376                                                                                                          |
| 19                                                                                                                   | Varanasi                                                                                                             | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd                                                                                       | 95                                                                                                                   | 17,49,18,947                                                                                                         |
| 20                                                                                                                   | Ahmednagar                                                                                                           | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd                                                                                       | 92.7                                                                                                                 | 47,13,312                                                                                                            |
| 20                                                                                                                   | Ahmednagar                                                                                                           | DB Corp Ltd                                                                                                          | 104                                                                                                                  | 47,13,312                                                                                                            |
| 21                                                                                                                   | Ajmer                                                                                                                | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                                                                                              | 104.8                                                                                                                | 79,08,589                                                                                                            |
| 21                                                                                                                   | Ajmer                                                                                                                | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                                                                                            | 106.4                                                                                                                | 79,08,589                                                                                                            |

|   22 | Akola         | DB Corp Ltd                                  | 94.3   | 29,59,000      |
|------|---------------|----------------------------------------------|--------|----------------|
|   22 | Akola         | Abhijit Realtors and Infraventures Pvt Ltd   | 91.9   | 29,59,000      |
|   23 | Aligarh       | HT Media Ltd                                 | 94.9   | 31,00,000      |
|   23 | Aligarh       | RenderLive Films and Entertainment Pvt Ltd   | 94.1   | 31,00,000      |
|   23 | Aligarh       | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                    | 104.6  | 31,00,000      |
|   24 | Aurangabad    | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd               | 92.7   |                |
|   24 | Aurangabad    | DB Corp Ltd                                  | 94.3   |                |
|   25 | Bareily       | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                    | 91.1   | 52,59,650      |
|   25 | Bareily       | HT Media Ltd                                 | 94.3   | 52,59,650      |
|   26 | Bhubanesh war | Sarthak Films Pvt Ltd                        | 91.9   | 7,40,13,559    |
|   27 | Bikaner       | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                      | 91.1   |                |
|   27 | Bikaner       | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                    | 95     | 31,00,000      |
|   27 | Bikaner       | DB Corp Ltd                                  | 94.3   | 31,00,000      |
|   28 | Bilaspur      | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                    | 91.1   | 33,45,541      |
|   28 | Bilaspur      | Abhijit Realtors and Infraventures Pvt Ltd   | 91.9   | 33,45,541      |
|   28 | Bilaspur      | Abir Buildcon Pvt Ltd                        | 92.7   | 33,45,541      |
|   29 | Chandigarh    | Entertainment Network India Ltd              | 98.3   | 19,04,72,374   |
|   30 | Dhule         | DB Corp Ltd                                  | 95     | 46,59,000      |
|   31 | Gorakhpur     | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd               | 92.7   | 31,00,000      |
|   31 | Gorakhpur     | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                    | 91.1   | 31,00.000      |
|   31 | Gorakhpur     | HT Media Ltd                                 | 94.3   | 31,00,000      |
|   32 | Guwahati      | Entertainment Network India Ltd              | 95     | 4,11,11,243    |
|   33 | Jalgaon       | DB Corp Ltd                                  | 94.3   | 36,59,000      |
|   33 | Jalgaon       | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                    | 98.3   | 36,59,000      |
|   34 | Jammu         | Entertainment Network India Ltd              | 98.3   | 1,01,07,090    |
|   34 | Jammu         | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                    | 95     | 1,01,07.090    |
|   35 | Jhansi        | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                    | 91.1   | 31,00,000      |
|   36 | Jodhpur       | Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd       | 93.5   | 11,44,39,124   |
|   37 | Kolhapur      | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                      | 95     | 9,44,24,489    |
|   37 | Kolhapur      | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd               | 92.7   | 9,44,24,489    |
|   38 | Kota          | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                      | 91.1   | 1,00,73,018    |
|   39 | Kozhikode     | The Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co Ltd |        | 7,02,00,100    |
|   39 | Kozhikode     | Entertainment Network India Ltd              | 92.7   | 7.02,00,100    |
|   40 | Muzzaffarpu   | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd               | 92.7   | 15,10,000      |
|   40 | Muzzaffarpu   | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd                    | 91.9   | 15,10,000      |
|   40 | Muzzaffarpu   | DB Corp Ltd                                  | 94.3   | 15,10,000      |
|   41 | Nanded        | DB Corp Ltd                                  | 94.3   | 29,59,000      |
|   42 | Nasik         | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                      | 95     | 14,66,24,270   |
|   42 | Nasik         | DB Corp Ltd                                  | 104.2  | 66,24,270 14,E |
|   43 | Patiala       | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                      | 107.2  | 1,64,93,619    |

| 44           | Rourkela     | Sarthak Films Pvt Ltd                  | 91.9         | 1,02,12,651    |
|--------------|--------------|----------------------------------------|--------------|----------------|
| 44           | Rourkela     | Odisha Television Ltd                  | 98.3         | 1,02,12,651    |
| 45           | Sangli       | DB Corp Ltd                            | 104          | 46,59,000      |
| 46           | Sholapur     | DB Corp Ltd                            | 95           | 72,03,811      |
| 46           | Sholapur     | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd              | 104.8        | 72,03,811      |
| 47           | Srinagar     | Entertainment Network India Ltd        | 98.3         | 61,20,090      |
| 47           | Srinagar     | Digital Radio (Delhi) Broadcasting Ltd | 93.5         | 61,20,090      |
| 47           | Srinagar     | Rajasthan Patrika Pvt Ltd              | 95           | 61,20,090      |
| 48           | Udaipur      | Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd                | 91.9         |                |
| 49           | Agartala     | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd         | 92.7         | 16,20,000      |
| 50           | Aizwal       | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd         | 92.7         | 12,07,000      |
| 51           | Hisar        | DB Corp Ltd                            | 94.5         | 83,84,735      |
| 52           | Itanagar     | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd         | 92.7         | 13,03,000      |
|              | Karnal       | DB Corp Ltd                            | 94.5         | 1,04,18,625    |
| 54           | Shillong     | Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd         | 98.3         | 69,15,070      |
| 54           | Shillong     | Entertainment Network India Ltd        | 91.1         | 69,15,070      |
| Total Amount | Total Amount | Total Amount                           | Total Amount | 1055,91,66,564 |