Brands
Big FM storms into real estate with Rs 1,200 crore flagship bet
Radio network targets Rs 3,500–4,000 crore in three years as it pivots from airwaves to acres
Lucknow: Big FM is tuning into a new frequency. The radio network owned by Reliance Broadcast Network Limited has stormed into real estate, unveiling Big FM Realty with a swaggering Rs 3,500–4,000 crore revenue target over the next three years.
The opening gambit is bold. The company has snapped up 80 acres on the Lucknow–Bahraich Road in Uttar Pradesh for a flagship mixed-use township expected to rake in Rs 1,200 crore.
The bet rests on asphalt and ambition. The four-laning of NH-927 is set to slash travel time between Lucknow and Bahraich from nearly two hours to about one, tightening links to the Nepal border and fuelling commercial momentum. Bahraich, long overlooked, is now pitched as an emerging growth corridor with rising appetite for modern homes and retail space.
A spokesperson for Big FM Realty called the move “a defining chapter in our journey of growth and transformation”.
“The launch of Big FM Realty marks a defining chapter in our journey of growth and transformation. Having built a strong national identity rooted in trust, authenticity and scale through our media heritage, we are now extending that same commitment to excellence into real estate. We aim to deliver thoughtfully designed, high-quality developments that blend innovation with practicality, ensuring lasting financial and lifestyle benefits for our customers. Bahraich, with its promising growth developments and strategic location, represents an exciting high-potential opportunity, and this project serves as the strong foundation for our wider vision in shaping modern urban living across India.”
The masterplan promises more than plots. The township will weave together premium plotted development, group housing, commercial and retail spaces, pitched as an integrated lifestyle destination with green landscapes, smart infrastructure and sustainable planning aimed at middle-class and upwardly mobile buyers.
Big FM is no small player. The network spans 58 stations across 23 states, reaching over 34 crore listeners in more than 1,900 towns and 1.2 lakh villages. Nearly two decades of brand-building in audio, it hopes, will translate into trust on the ground.
From commanding the airwaves to carving up land banks, Big FM is wagering that credibility can be converted into concrete. The microphone is down; the earthmovers are warming up.
Brands
Kia India partners HYBE India for 15-city global girl group auditions
Automaker backs nationwide talent hunt with immersive Syros-led youth engagement
NEW DELHI: Kia India has partnered with HYBE India as the exclusive automotive partner for its first large-scale global auditions aimed at discovering India’s next international girl group.
The initiative will span 15 cities, combining on-ground and digital auditions to create a global pathway for young Indian talent. The collaboration blends entertainment with brand engagement, positioning the automaker at the centre of a youth-driven cultural platform.
As part of the rollout, HYBE India will bring its globally recognised artist development model to India, building on the legacy of HYBE, known for creating acts like BTS and KATSEYE.
The partnership will come to life through HYBE India Pop-Up Parks across cities, featuring the 2026 Kia Syros as a central attraction. A key highlight is the ‘Kia Engagement Zone’, an in-car content creation setup that allows participants to record and share performance videos, turning the vehicle into a creative studio on wheels.
Kia India senior vice president marketing and sales Atul Sood said, “Kia India’s collaboration with HYBE India reflects a shared understanding of how culture, creativity and youth aspirations are evolving today.”
HYBE India head of business development Sarthak Arora said, “This collaboration enables us to build a meaningful platform that helps unlock India’s potential on a global stage.”
The on-ground activations will begin in Guwahati on 2 May, followed by Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and New Delhi, before expanding to other cities including Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Chandigarh. Online auditions will run from 31 March to 31 July, extending participation to Indian talent worldwide.
With this move, Kia India is stepping beyond mobility to engage with youth culture and creative ambition, aligning its brand with a generation that values global exposure, identity and self-expression.
