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FM: Adlabs, Sun TV, Mirchi, B.A.G. emerge winners in B,C, D towns
NEW DELHI: The government has collected Rs 837 million as one time licence fee from FM radio bidders for categories B, C and D cities in North India where 76 frequencies were put up for sale.
The major gainers in this round of bidding include Anil Ambani-controlled Adlabs, South Asia FM (from the Sun TV group in association with Malaysia’s Astro), Radio Mirchi and some smaller players like B.A.G. Films, which bagged four cities at last count.
“We are very happy with this announcement and keeping in mind that we are a television content company, we will be able to provide meaningful content to the youth of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and also parts of Punjab. Our experience of more than 12 years will surely bring a remarkable change in the FM industry,” said B.A.G. Films managing director Anurradha Prasad.
For 21 cities in North India, 104 bids came in out of which only 63 finally qualified.
Amongst the cities that B.A.G. has bagged are Karnal (Rs 7.1 million), Hissar (Rs 6.1 million), Patiala (Rs 7.1 million) and Shimla (Rs 8.1 million).
Adlabs, which is emerging as a major player in the FM radio sector, lost out in a couple of cities. But it has the satisfaction of bidding the only licence in Srinagar for Rs 6.1 million and being one of the two successful bidders in Chandigarh where the company forked out Rs 150 million.
The other successful bidder in Chandigarh was the Bhaskar group that bagged a licence for about Rs 105 million.
“FM radio will be lapped up by people in smaller cities and it will not be a big challenge to get local advertisers on board,” Adlabs’ representative Rajesh Sawhney said.
Like South Asia FM, Adlabs too had bid for licences in all the 21 cities. South Asia FM lost out in eight cities.
Another print-to-broadcasting media house, the Kanpur-headquartered Jagran group, made some successful bids in the north Indian cities where the group has editions of its newspapers.
The Jagran group has bagged Agra (Rs 25,600,050), Agra, Bareilly, Hissar (Rs 2,700,000 each), Jallandhar (Rs 22,500,000) and Gorakhpur (Rs 1,800,000), amongst others.
The Bhaskar group, which had put in multiple bids throughout the country via more than one company, bagged licences in Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Jallandhar, amongst several others.
“We have picked up licences in almost all the cities where the Bhaskar group is planning (newspaper) editions in the near future,” said a representative of Bhaskar group, which is one of the top three regional media powerhouses in India and runs, in association with Zee supremo Subhash Chandra, the English daily DNA.
The government had put in minimum net worth criteria for companies interested bidding for FM licences. The net worth for D category cities was Rs 5 million, C category cities Rs 10 million and B category cities Rs 20 million.
The process for the remaining 57 B, C and D category cities in East, West and South regions of India would continue on January 20, 27 and February 03, 2006.
Also read:
FM bid: HT, Radio Mid-Day West, Adlabs bag multiple licenses in metros
Government clears 85 companies for FM radio bid; 15 left out
FM radio II: Rs 5 bn+ licence fee in 1st round
Firms tuning in to FM phase II a diverse grouping
Full list of companies that have evinced interest in applying for FM licences
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
