The e-auction of the first batch of FM Phase III comprising 135 channels in 69 existing cities of Phase II had commenced on 27th July and over 32 days 125 rounds of bidding took place.
"At the end of the channel allocation stage, 97 channels in 56 cities became provisional winning channels with cumulative provisional winning price of about Rs 1,156.9 crore against their aggregate reserve price of about Rs 459.8 crore," the Information and Broadcasting ministry said in a statement here.
"Overall, cumulative provisional winning price exceeded the total reserve price of the first batch i.E. Rs 550.18 crore by Rs 606.72 crore or 110.27 per cent," it added.
Over 71 per cent channels of the first batch were provisionally won by bidders. However, there were other channels which were not picked up by the bidding companies.
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Cities like Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar and Jodhpur witnessed robust bidding activity with provisionally won price being as high as 800 per cent over reserve price for their channels.
Overall, 18 cities got provisionally won bidders for their channels at prices more than double the respective reserve prices.
After the first round today, which was the 125th round overall, closure condition for the channel allocation stage was attained, the ministry said.