NEW DELHI: With the entire process of FM radio Phase III auctions getting delayed due to various reasons, the government has decided to give more time to FM Phase II operators to migrate to Phase III.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has extended the last date of signing the Grant of Permission Agreement (GOPA) from 31 December to 30 June 2013.

Thus operators wanting to migrate to Phase-III regime can now execute the GOPA by 30 June 2013.

Some radio broadcasters say that this extension is a clear indication that the process for the phase III auctions will be delayed.

Earlier this year, a total of 25 broadcasting companies had applied for migrating from FM Radio Phase II to FM Radio Phase III.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources said these included Reliance Broadcast, Asianet Radio, BAG Infotainment, HT Media, Malayala Manorama, Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd., Radio Mid-Day West (India) Ltd., Mathrubhumi, Sun TV Network and Udaya FM.

Others are Clear Media (India) Pvt Ltd., Entertainment Network India Ltd., Gwalior Farms Pvt Ltd., India Radio Ventures Pvt Ltd., Kal Radio Ltd., Malar Publications, Muthoot Broadcasting Pvt Ltd., PCM Cement Concrete Pvt Ltd., Purvy Broadcasts Pvt Ld., Digital Radio Broadcasting Ltd., Raneka Fincom Pvt Ltd., South Asia FM Ltd., D B Corp Ltd., Syntech Informatics Pvt Ltd., and Puran Multimedia Ltd.

The government had earlier decided to commence e-auctions from December this year over a period of three years to increase the number of private FM radio channels from the present 245 to around 839 covering another 227 cities having population of over 100,000.

Even as the Government has said that private FM radio channels will be permitted to carry news bulletins of All India Radio in unaltered form, it has been clarified that broadcast relating to subjects like sporting events, traffic and weather will be treated as non-news and will therefore be permissible.

Other subjects coming under non-news and current affairs are coverage of cultural events, festivals, coverage of topics pertaining to examinations, results, admissions, career counseling, availability of employment opportunities, and public announcements pertaining to civic amenities like electricity, water supply, natural calamities, health alerts etc. as provided by the local administration.