"All the important decision makers, including the information and broadcasting minister, the deputy prime minister, the finance minister and the Amit Mitra headed task force have all heard us out," he says, referring to the meeting the broadcasters had with the powers that be in Delhi in February, asking for deferment, as well as relaxation in the terms and conditions of the license fee regime.

"They have made our claims and complaints uptil now very valid," Dutta said.

The first welcome signs of respite for FM players had come during the Ficci Frames convention in March, when I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in his inaugural address, mentioned that "on radio, the government was moving in the right direction", and that "radio was poised for great things" in the country.

"It's a logical step and one in the right direction," says Go's station director Sharique Patel. "It is something that will help us in the short run definitely. Hope the government accepts the Trai's recommendations now."

Once that happens, Patel believes, the entire FM community will breathe a lot easier.

AP Parigi, managing director of the Times Group's Entertainment Network (India) Ltd (which manages its FM station Radio Mirchi), said, We are studying the interim recommendation of the TRAI. Given the industrys precarious financial condition, we are happy that this recommendation has been given.