On interference of FM radio waves due to close geographical proximity

Since we started our station in 2007, radio stations from as far as Kolkata could be heard in Bhubaneswar. When we talk of 790 FM across 230 towns, interference seems inevitable. These interferences are due to atmospheric distortions. Stations in Kolkata run at 10 kW which is double to that of in Bhubaneswar. Radio Choklate has a frequency of 104 in Bhubaneswar. When these interferences occur, listeners can listen to Fever Kolkata which has the same frequency intermittently with my own station. The effect is garbled and chaotic. Advertisers begin to ask for an explanation and demand repeats, which is loss of air time inventory for the station. I would want the licenseing authority and WPC, to find a solution for it. Can the 10 kW power of station in Metros be decreased to eliminate these nuances? Or should I opt for another frequency, rather than 104 an which I have been operating since the last three years? Then what happens to the money I have already spent on my brand frequency? If feasible solutions can be proposed and implemented, we would be glad to operationalize them, as a radio station.

When we are talking about Phase III for 230 towns, has sufficient research been done by WPC that these occurrences are not a regular feature? What is the power that should be allotted to these stations? Have models been followed for research by experiments by the licensing authority? Radio stations would definitely want a clear scenario before bidding begins. Let me also highlight another fact - once you have bid and have set up a station, the rental cost charged by Prasar Bharati is mind boggling. If one compares the reality rates in the city, the rental from Prasar Bharti is way too high. This has to be rectified before Phase III bids are invited.

On high music royalties paid to music companies

Radio Choklate is a local station. We are way too small compared to the bigwigs in this space. The city we operate from is category C, Bhubaneswar. The royalty that is been charged by labels is way too high for financial feasibility for a station like ours. The Government's objective for Phase II and Phase III is to get FM stations to small cities, tier 3 cities. The entire effort fails if royalty payments break the backbone of a station. Royalty in the legion of 30-50 percent is unthinkable and is bleeding radio stations.

Financially, many radio stations are reeling under this pressure. One of the primary reasons has been the high royalty fees. The Association of Radio Operators (AROI) in India has been consistently pursuing these issues. Its high time to get some action done which will benefit the industry.

On FM stations who should make investments under FM Phase III

I understand that the FM radio works in the 88 MHz-108 MHz frequency band that also mandates fixed spectrum to All India Radio and certain frequencies devoted to law enforcement, among others. If there are 790 plus frequencies listed, then I hope at least 50 percent of them should be workable for commercial use. As per the region, a player would have to decide the cities which would be financially viable. What we saw with Phase I and II, not all the frequencies might be auctioned. However, Radio Choklate 104 FM has almost decided the cities, it would bid for. And we did keep the geographical proximity and problem of interference in mind, while deliberating on the city. It is a call which players would have to make. Lot of national players have been hit hard in the last one year. If the government can provide incentives for the industry, and the royalty fees issues are realistically dealt with, I have no reason to believe why players would not invest.