If all goes well then, you may soon hear news being broadcast on privately held FM radio channels in India, along with the usual doze of infotainment, by this year's end. Sources inform that the government may take the decision to allow news in private FM radio stations to be aired by the end of 2008. This will happen almost three years after the Prime Minister’s Information, Communication and Entertainment Committee okayed the proposal.

It is further reported that the news content put out by Doordarshan, All India Radio and certified local and international newswire agencies will be permitted. The airing of news, however, was permitted on private television channels, whereas private FM channels could only belt out entertainment related programmes. News is allowed on All India Radio (AIR).

The officials from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry were not available for comment. It was Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) that suggested earlier this year that private FM radio stations also air news, with certain curbs. There is a decent likelihood that the I&B Ministry may accept the recommendation of Trai.