AIR plans for FM players

Even as private FM radio licencees have started making their own tower arrangements in Mumbai, All India Radio (AIR) is making a last-ditch attempt to tap the Mumbai stations. According to AIR Resources head HO Srivastava, a new proposal to build a tower will be presented to the private FM licencees for their Mumbai stations. The proposal is expected sometime this month. Just after the signing of MoU between Prasar Bharati and private operators on sharing AIR towers in three metros,Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata and two non metros, Indore and Vishakapatnam, for 16 private radio stations here on Monday, Dr Srivastava indicated that AIR may still bag the Mumbai project. According to Dr Srivastava, the Mumbai tower can be built in another two years. As for its cost, he said: “We have to negotiate on that.” Meanwhile, Prasar Bharati has made a business worth Rs 3.5 crore for offering its towers to private licencees for 14 metro stations and two non-metro stations this year. Earlier, it had garnered Rs 14 crore for its deals with Ignou and Music Broadcast Private Ltd. The annual tower-sharing fee for Delhi is Rs 25 lakh per annum per broadcaster and Rs 13.36 lakh each for Kolkata and Chennai. Plus, there will be additional fee for land, roads and security.