News Broadcasting
Radio City to open Lucknow station in December
Radio City, the Star India-managed private FM radio station that has had a successful debut in Bangalore, plans to open its next station in Lucknow in December.
India’s first private FM radio station launched its first station in Bangalore in July. According Sumantro Dutta, COO (Radio) Star India: “We are interested in Lucknow as it is one of the major cities of India and hence it has great potential. We would like to be present in this market.” Queried on when he expected to launch services in Mumbai and Delhi, Dutta said: “We are still awaiting a few clearances from the government.”
Star will conduct market research in Lucknow as it had earlier done in Bangalore in order to ascertain what the preferences of the people of Lucknow are. But Dutta said that at this point it was too early to say anything about the nature of content on the channel.
Regarding advertising potential Dutta said: “There has been a great response from advertisers (local & national) for Lucknow as this will open up opportunities for an extremely cost effective advertising medium and going by the popularity of Radio City in Bangalore, we are hoping the same will happen in Lucknow, thereby bringing a large sets of new audiences to 24-hours non-stop FM radio.”
Dutta gave five reasons for the popularity of Radio City in Bangalore: programming & content, station packaging, the seamless nature of the station, the kind of RJ’s the station had, and of course the obvious one – the sound reception quality at the listener end.
Questioned as to how Star was planning to expand advertising revenue regarding radio Dutta said: “We plan to grow the advertising pie by exploring unconventional means of advertising on radio & opening up opportunities for new categories of advertisers to use radio. That in itself is a huge task.”
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
