On the heels of the huge private channel-Prasar Bharti controversy over the cricket telecast, comes a balm from I&B minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi. Today, at The Indian Express Group’s Idea Exchange programme, the minister announced that private FM radio stations may soon be allowed to broadcast sports commentary.

The private channels will still not be able to broadcast news because it goes against government policy, but sports is okay “because it is entertainment,” he said. The news part could come in too, but later, in a phased manner.

“I will soon go to Parliament with a proposal to allow sports commentary in the private FM radio sector as it is not news,” Dasmunsi said. He will insist that sports commentary does not fall in the category of news.

Currently only All India Radio can do sports commentary. This part also had become a contentious issue during the cricket series (versus the West Indies and Sri Lanka), with Nimbus Corporation initially denying access to AIR personnel, saying that too was their exclusive property. Later, the ministry pushed through an ordinance to gain access.

The government’s liberal policy on this, even allowing FDI to a limit, will result in 300 new stations across the country.

In putting forth his ministry’s stand on the radio issue Dasmunsi made it clear that this was also one key area that had worried the ministry when the cricket dispute arose. “As public broadcasters we do have a responsibility to the public,” he said.

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