In an important development for the ongoing e-auction process for private FM Radio Batch III channels under Phase III, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued the first amendment to the Auction Rules dated November 27, 2024.

On April 09, the amendment, approved by the competent authority, modifies Clause 1.6.1 (c) of the original Auction Rules, specifically concerning the structure and timing of the allocation stage. As per the original rule, the duration of each bidding round during the Rank-wise Multiple Rounds was fixed at 30 minutes with no provision for any time extension.

However, with this latest amendment, the government has extended the duration of each round to 60 minutes, while maintaining the rule that no time extension will be granted to bidders during the process. This change is intended to provide participants with more time per round to make strategic bidding decisions without altering the overall structure of the auction.

The amendment pertains to the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) issued on October 14, 2024, and aims to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the ongoing Phase III e-auctions.

Industry players who have applied for the auction under Batch III are advised to take note of this update as they prepare for the upcoming rounds. The government continues to move forward with its commitment to expand the FM radio footprint across India, ensuring a wider reach and better quality broadcasting services for listeners nationwide.