99 TV channels, 175 FM stations more in 2007

Ninty-nine new television channels and 175 FM radio stations are expected to be launched this year. These TV channels  are awaiting uplinking licences from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Ninety-three private satellite television channels have been permitted to uplink from India so far.

Giving a reply to a query in the Parliament today, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Minister of Information and Broadcasting said: "Twenty-five private satellite television channels were permitted to be uplinked from India during the year 2005, while thirty-seven channels were permitted during 2006. Thirty-one channels have been permitted during the current year up to July 31."

The I&B minister said that applications of 59 companies, to uplink 99 TV channels from India, are at various stages of scrutiny. "These also require inter-ministerial comments and hence, no definite time-frame can be indicated," Dasmunsi said.

The I&B ministry has also informed that 175 additional FM radio stations would come up in 2007, of which 11 FM stations will be operated by the All India Radio (AIR) and the rest would be private FM radio stations. The opening up of new private FM stations is part of the second-phase expansion of private FM radio in the country as announced by the government in 2005.