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Sun TV to consolidate radio assets in Kal Radio, South Asia FM
MUMBAI: Sun TV is transferring the existing licenses of its operational radio stations to the subsidiary companies – Kal Radio Ltd and South Asia FM Ltd.
The company has applied to the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) for approval. The plan is to consolidate Sun’s FM radio assets in Kal Radio and South Asia FM, the two subsidiaries who have bid for licenses under Phase II of FM radio expansion.
Sun’s existing FM radio operations are in four cities. Suryan FM has licenses and operates in Chennai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli. Udaya TV Pvt Ltd. operates Vishaka FM in Visakhapatnam and has also applied to the MIB for the transfer of the license to Kal Radio.
Some analysts expect radio operations to contribute to 20 per cent of Sun’s total revenues by FY 2008. Suryan FM generated 9.3 per cent and 8.8 per cent of the total advertising income of Sun TV for fiscal 2005 and nine months ended 31 December 2005. Suryan FM was launched in Coimbatore and Tirunelveli in March and in Chennai in May 2003.
Sun TV is using the radio vehicle to expand to language markets other than Tamil and Malayalam. It plans to set up and operationalise FM radio stations in 41 cities across the country. Kal Radio has bid for stations like Bangalore and Hyderabad in the southern region while South Asia will operate in the other markets including cities like Pune, Ahmedabad and Allahabad.
Sun TV will use a major chunk of the proceeds from the initial public offering (IPO) to capitalise the radio business. The company aims to raise Rs 6.03 billion at the top end of the price band at Rs 875 per share.
Kal and South Asia FM would require an approximate of Rs 1.83 billion towards acquisition of broadcasting equipement (FM transmitters, FM antennas, payment of common infrastructure), setting up of local offices and radio studios. Besides, the inter-corporate deposits provided to the subsidiaries for bidding in Phase II amounted to around Rs 1.55 billion.
The public issue opens on 3 April and will close on 7 April.
Sun TV owns 89 per cent in Kal Radio and 94.91 per cent in South Asia FM. Promoter Kalanithi Maran holds 10.5 per cent in Kal Radio and 5.1 per cent in South Asia FM.
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.
