World Cup Cricket 2007 on FM radio..?

For all those FM listeners who love cricket and are bored with listening to film songs on your FM stations, there’s good news. You will very soon be able to hear the live teleacst of the matches of the World Cup cricket on your favorite FM channels. Music to ears? Indeed!!

This move is underway as the Government is planning to allow live commentary of sporting events of national importance on FM radio stations. This move is about to generate a revenue of Rs.55 Crores within a span of 45 days! The revenue generated would be 10 times the revenue generated by AIR during the World Cup last time. And more importantly, the revenue would be 16% of the entire revenue of the FM stations for the year. �The decision is expected before India plays its first World Cup match on March 17,� a senior Information &Broadcast Ministry official said.

Once the Stations are allowed the radio companies will have to bid for the rights on a city-to-city basis.
So, sunny days for FM stations who have already started spot bookings and have begun roping giants like LG, Pepsi, Hindustan Unilever Limited , Procter & Gamble (P&G) and Emami, among others for spot sales.

This would also lead to a host of other activity revolving around the commentary such as expert analysis, stars interviews etc.

Certainly ominous signs for FM Stations who have more options to prove themselves in the over heated sector and great news to all the listeners tuned to FM in India- World Cup fever got hotter!!