BBC expands its radio reach in India

MUMBAI: BBC has inked a deal with 94.3 Tomato FM, wherein its programming has been specially tailored for India’s FM market. This will now be available to listeners in Kolhapur and will shortly be available to Tomato FM listeners in Sangli.

Every half-hour, from 8 am to 8 pm, audiences of 94.3 Tomato FM can tune in the BBC’s infotainment updates, BBC Ek Minute. This takes listeners inside the world of sports and entertainment. Additionally, every Sunday, listeners can enjoy the BBC’s popular weekly chat show, BBC Ek Mulaqat, presented by the BBC India editor Sanjeev Srivastava. This show profiles India’s prominent people from the worlds of media, films, sports, business, arts and politics, showing ‘the other side’ of celebrities’ lives and playing their favourite songs.

Apart from Tomato FM, BBC also has partnerships with Radio One in Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, Radio Choklate in Bhubanswar and Cuttack, and Radio Tarang in Hissar.

Tomato FM CEO Naval Toshniwal said, “This alliance is a major boost in our station’s efforts to offer quality content and entertainment to its listeners.”

BBC World Service India business development manager Vineeta Dwivedi added, “Radio Tomato has excellent local content, and we are delighted they are adding some of the BBC’s most successful programmes to their exciting schedule. This will ensure the very best programming reaches audiences in Kolhapur and, later, in Sangli. I look forward to working with our friends at Radio Tomato to extend this relationship.”