as radio�s time come? If it has, it won�t be a year too soon. Since 2001, when FM (frequency modulated) radio stations came into being, the articles and pronouncements of growth and prosperity have gradually given way to grumbling and whining about the state of the business, government policy and how unfair life is - and yes, lots of red on the balance sheet. Just when it had begun to seem that radio would be left out of the love fest that media is enjoying with investors and the stock market, there is happiness in the air.

With bidding to begin for 336 new FM radio channels in 90 cities soon, the radio network is about to arrive. The first of the stations should become operational by end- 2006, and all of them should be on air within 12 months of that. At a rough average of Rs 3 crore in investment per channel, that would imply an investment of about Rs 1,000 crore in the new channels.... more