Music and Youth
Radio Today in talks to dilute 20 per cent to foreign strategic investor
MUMBAI: Aroon Purie-promoted Radio Today Broadcasting is planning to dilute 20 per cent equity to a foreign strategic investor, following a template that other FM radio companies in India are keen to adopt.
Radio Today is in active talks with overseas media companies as it prepares to launch the FM stations in the three metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata in March. The Living Media group company has won licenses paying a fee of Rs 280 million to operate in seven stations in the second phase of FM expansion after selling Red FM to a clutch of investors comprising infotech company Value Labs, Malaysia-based Astro and NDTV. Red FM was operating in the circles of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
“We feel we will discover the real value of our radio business by roping in a foreign strategic investor. We are ready to sell 20 per cent stake and are in discussions with a couple of companies for this,” says a source familiar with the deal. A maximum of 20 per cent foreign holding is allowed in radio companies in India.
Bertelsmann and CBS are among the foreign majors who have yet to make an entry into India. The source, however, declined to name the companies which are in talks with Radio Today.
TV Today Network Ltd, which owns a slew of channels including Aaj Tak and Headlines Today, has a 10 per cent stake in Radio Today. “There is no plan to up the stake. But with a 10 per cent holding, TV Today will capture the value when a partner is roped in for Radio Today which will get reflected in the scrip price,” the source says.
Foreign companies are showing interest to participate in India’s FM radio business that is set for rapid growth. Mid Day Multimedia sold stake to BBC Worldwide in its radio venture while Hindustan Times Media has tied up with Virgin. Star is awaiting FIPB (foreign investment promotion board) approval to acquire a 20 per cent stake in Music Broadcast ( the company which operates under the Radio City brand), marking a re-entry into the FM radio business. The US-based Balfour Capital LLC is also investing in Noble Broadcasting Corporation, the FM radio-arm of the Chennai based Kumudham Publications.
Investors are drawn in by the prospect of radio stations appealing to youth audiences and tapping local advertising. As reported first in Indiantelevision.com, IDBI picked up a 10 per cent stake in B.A.G Infotainment, the subsidiary of B.A.G Films which is engaged in the radio business.
Music and Youth
TLC launches ‘World On My Plate’ with Shipra Khanna
New travel-food series premieres 29 March at 7:00 PM.
MUMBAI: Shipra Khanna just packed her bags and her flavours because when a celebrated chef takes you on a global plate tour, even the couch starts feeling like first-class. Warner Bros. Discovery India has announced the launch of World On My Plate with Shipra Khanna, a new travel and food series set to premiere on TLC on 29 March at 7:00 PM. Hosted and curated by the popular chef and television personality, the show blends food, travel and culture through an intimate and immersive lens.
Across three visually rich episodes, Shipra journeys to global destinations to explore not just what people eat, but why they eat it, uncovering the stories, traditions and human connections behind every dish. The series opens in London, weaving its iconic landmarks with diverse culinary scenes, before moving to Spain’s vineyards, olive orchards and coastal kitchens.
Warner Bros. Discovery head of advertising revenues for South Asia Tanaz Mehta said: “At TLC, our focus has always been on bringing authentic stories that reflect how people live and connect. World On My Plate builds on this by using food as a lens to explore shared traditions across geographies. We’re excited to collaborate with Chef Shipra Khanna, whose perspective brings both depth and relatability to these narratives.”
Shipra Khanna added, “Food has always been my way of connecting with people and understanding cultures. With World On My Plate, I’ve had the opportunity to step into new worlds, learn from incredible individuals, and share stories that go far beyond the plate. This show is very special to me.”
The series promises strong visual storytelling, meaningful interactions and a fresh perspective on global cuisine celebrating flavours alongside the emotions and traditions that shape them.
In a world where travel shows often feel like distant postcards, Shipra Khanna is serving up something far more personal: a passport to cultures through their kitchens, proving that the best way to understand a place is still through the plate. Tune in to World On My Plate with Shipra Khanna starting 29 March at 7:00 PM on TLC.
