Anil's FM venture to kick-off this month

The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group's (ADAG) FM radio venture, called Adlabs Radio, will go on air by the end of this month. The company will launch 45 stations across the country for the project.

Apart from the four metros, the venture would be rolled out in Hyderabad and Bangalore, and three smaller towns of Srinagar, Jammu and Aligarh.

The company will operate under the brand, Big FM.

"After launching all the 45 stations, we will have over 1,500 personnel working with the company, including radio jockeys and other staff. We have lined up the necessary technologies and the launch will take place by the end of this month," Adlabs Radio Chief Operating Officer Tarun Katial told Business Standard here today.

Big FM is also entering into alliances with other radio companies like Century Communications. This would result in the ADAG firm having 54 stations across the country.

"Ours will be the largest radio network in the country," Katial said. He, however, did not divulge the investments earmarked for setting up of the pan-India presence.

Katial said the company will rake in revenues through radio advertising which is "considerably gaining grounds in the country and will be more profitable than anybody would expect".

Big FM is also in the process of roping in a brand ambassador.