News Broadcasting
NDTV, Astro snap up Red FM ops
MUMBAI/ NEW DELHI: After nurturing it since the birth of private radio broadcasting in the country in 2001, Aroon Purie’s Living Media Group, owners of India Today magazine and TV Today Network, has exited a radio venture lock, stock and every song in the library.
A clutch of investors, including infotech company Value Labs, Malaysian broadcaster Astro and premier Indian news organization NDTV, have joined hands to buy out the operations of Radio Today, the radio division of Living Media Group, for an undisclosed amount.
The government clearance to the deal, ahead of the start of financial bidding process for second round of FM radio later this month, came in yesterday. The actual agreement was formalised on Monday morning.
In the loose structure that is there at present, the Hyderabad-based Value Labs is the majority shareholder, while both NDTV and Astro hold minority stakes. Astro, being a foreign company, cannot hold more than 20 per cent stake in a FM radio venture as per government norms.
Though the companies involved were mum on the valuation of the radio company, sources close to the deal-making told Indiantelevision.com that the Radio Today — which runs stations under the brand name Red FM in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata — deal was “more reasonable” than the BBC-Radio Mid-Day agreement.
“Even the buyers were a little surprised by the final price agreed for Radio Today,” a source said, hinting that the valuation agreed upon of Radio Today was lesser than that of Radio Midday
According to market indicators, Radio Mid-day was valued at between Rs 1.6 to Rs 1.8 billion. The company operates one FM station in Mumbai, compared to Radio Today’s presence in three cities.
In a statement issued in the afternoon today by the buyers, it was stated, “Associate companies of Value Labs and Astro, through their existing Indian joint ventures, have come together with NDTV News (subsidiary of NDTV) to acquire Radio Today (Mumbai) Broadcasting Limited, Radio Today (Delhi) Broadcasting Limited and Radio Today (Calcutta) Broadcasting Limited from the Living Media Group.”
The statement quoted Value Labs founder promoter and CEO Arjun Rao as saying, “We’re very excited with the opportunity to expand into the radio sector in India and hope to build upon our global experience in the multimedia space. The possibilities that exist in relation to creating an interactive eco-system across radio, television, Internet and mobile (phones) is something we’re looking forward to.”
Value Labs is a Hyderabad based global IT service provider, with extensive experience in telecom and multimedia application development.
NDTV Ltd director Narayan Rao added that they expect a lot of “cross media synergies by entering the (radio) space.”
NDTV and Astro relationship is not new. Last year, the Indian news broadcaster entered into a joint venture deal with Astro All Asia Network. Under the agreement, NDTV will hold up to 20 per cent in the joint venture with Astro Broadcast Corp LTD, a wholly owned company of Astro All Asia Network, to set up and broadcast 24-hour channels in South East Asia.
And, Astro’s interest in the Indian market is nothing new either. Astro CEO Ralph Marshall has been quoted by the Hong Kong-based Media Partners Asia publication Media Routes in 2004 as saying that the company would expand regionally with pay TV investments in Indonesia and radio ventures in India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam.
In the mid-1990s, Astro/Measat had a pact with Doordarshan for a DTH service that never got off the block. At present, the Astro group provides marketing and back up support to two FM radio stations in Kolkata.
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News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
