Ambika Soni expects cabinet to give nod to FM radio phase III

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni hopes the cabinet would approve phase III of FM radio that will also include first-ever broadcast of news bulletins on private radio channels. "The cabinet approval should happen before year-end," Soni said when she was asked about the timeline for rollout of FM-III radio policy.

Soni was speaking at an interactive discussion on media, organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Under the new phase of FM radio expansion, around 700 FM radio stations, mostly in districts and small towns, are likely to be rolled out.

Private FM channels can only source news from public broadcaster All India Radio and Doordarshan, Soni clarified.

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