HYDERABAD: The twin cities are likely to tune into their first private FM radio channel this year with the Anil Ambani-run Adlabs reportedly bagging the licence for Hyderabad along with Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.

It is said to have emerged the highest and successful bidder for Hyderabad radio in the aggressive bidding for second phase of the licensing process for private FM radio channels initiated by the Government, inviting bids for 64 radio stations in 13 big cities, according to reports from Delhi.

Indeed, the Hyderabad air is abuzz with radio making waves once again. All India Radio had launched its youthful FM channel `Rainbow' in the city 10 days ago while the regular Vividh Bharathi channel, the torchbearer for radio in the city of the Nizams down the decades, was presented in an all-new avatar.

Second coming

While cities like Bangalore and Mumbai caught on to the radio's second coming in the country as early as five years ago, literally swearing by it and making it an integral part of daily life there, Hyderabad had been deprived of FM Radio for too long. So much so, radio listening had gone out of vogue for many, particularly the younger lot.

With satellite radio Worldspace kicking up a feverish pitch last year and All India Radio refurbishing its programmes in a big way, radio came back into fashion making denizens of Hyderabad plug into radio once again. And now, with the advent of a private radio channel -- more are said to be in the pipeline -- is set to make the Hyderabad air a wee bit crowded, but no one is complaining.

All ears are glued to the final announcement on the matter to be made by Information and Broadcasting Ministry officials who insist the licence is subject to fulfilment of all criterion notwithstanding the high bidding.

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