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BBC Worldwide to invest Rs 318 million in Radio Mid Day; stake not finalised
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Holdings BV is investing Rs 318.50 million in Radio Mid Day West (India), making it the first equity deal after the government allowed up to 20 per cent foreign shareholding in private FM radio business.
But BBC’s exact shareholding in Radio Mid-Day is not finalised yet. “The exact stake position would be decided after the auctioning process is over,”
Mid-day Multimedia Ltd promoter and managing director Tariq Ansari tells Indiantelevision.com.
Radio Mid Day has also found a second investor. Rare Enterprises, which has stock broker Rakesh Jhunjhunwala as a partner, will be investing Rs 100 million in the company.
Radio Mid Day will utilise the funds for bidding for licenses under phase II of the private FM radio broadcasting policy. The company was recently cleared by the government to submit financial bids for the second phase of FM radio expansion, which is likely to start this month.
“We have entered into an agreement with BBC Worldwide to invest in the equity shares of Radio Mid Day. Further, we have also got into a formal arrangement with Rare Enterprises,” Ansari said.
Announcing the partnership, BBC Worldwide managing director global TV sales Mark Young in a statement today said, “This is a very exciting and pivotal time to enter the Indian FM radio market.”
He added, “With liberalisation of this sector offering unprecedented opportunities in FM radio, and Mid Day Multimedia’s wealth of experience and expertise, our new partnership is well on course to establish a leading national radio business across India.”
According to Ansari, access to one of the world’s most respected media organisations will help establish a network of radio stations where producers can use the BBC’s radio expertise to “develop and inspire their programming on a local level.”
When queried by Indiantelevision.com on how many cities Radio Mid Day was planning to bid for, Ansari declined to comment.
Radio Mid Day West (India) Pvt Ltd is a subsidiary of Midday Multimedia and runs a radio station in Mumbai under the brand name Go 92.5 FM.
In a step-up to further liberalise the market, late last year the government decided to release 338 new FM radio licenses across 91 major cities.
Bidding opens in January and closes in February, after which successful applicants will have 12 months to establish operational FM radio stations.
Also Read:
Radio FM: govt announces 2nd list of bidders
BBC mulls 20 % stake in Radio Mid-Day
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.
