The wait for private FM radio in Belagavi continues. In the recently concluded third batch of Phase-III private FM channel auctions, none of the four frequencies allotted to the city received a single bid, extending a trend seen in earlier auction rounds.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) said the auctions covered 234 cities, including Belagavi, to expand FM coverage, particularly in smaller markets. While leading media houses vied for prime slots in larger cities, with bids in places like Ludhiana crossing ₹7.83 crore, Belagavi’s offerings failed to attract interest.
Why No Bidders?
This is not the first such outcome for Belagavi. Previous Phase-III auctions also saw no bids for the city’s slots. Industry observers point to factors like steep reserve prices, uncertain ad revenue, and perceptions of low commercial viability in smaller cities as key deterrents.
Still Without Private FM
While major urban centres continue to add new FM stations, Belagavi remains without a private FM presence. The government’s push to extend radio to uncovered cities has yet to bear fruit here, highlighting the hurdles tier-two cities face in drawing private investment in radio.
What’s Next?
Unless auction terms are made more appealing, such as lowering reserve prices or offering incentives, Belagavi’s hopes for private FM may remain out of reach. For now, listeners must depend on government-run and community stations for their radio content.
