Tag: India Today Group

Human Interest

Saurabh Dwivedi Bids Farewell to India Today Group After 12 Years

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

After a significant 12-year association with the India Today Group Digital, Saurabh Dwivedi, Editor of Lallantop and India Today Hindi, is set to move on to explore new opportunities across diverse fields. The development was shared by Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson of the India Today Group, marking a moment of transition for one of the group’s most influential digital leaders.

Saurabh Dwivedi’s journey within the organisation is a testament to homegrown leadership in Indian media. Nurtured within Mediaplex, he joined the group as Features Editor at aajtak.in, gradually carving a space for himself through sharp editorial instincts and an understanding of evolving digital audiences. His growth mirrored the transformation of Hindi digital journalism itself.

Along with Kamlesh, Saurabh went on to shape Lallantop into a distinctive platform that spoke directly to the youth of India’s heartland. By blending grounded reporting with a conversational tone and strong storytelling, Lallantop emerged as a go-to destination for audiences seeking relatable, credible, and culturally rooted news content in Hindi.

Over the years, Saurabh’s leadership helped redefine how Hindi news could thrive in the digital-first era, building trust and connection with a generation that prefers authenticity over formality. His exit marks the end of a defining chapter not just for the India Today Group, but for the broader Hindi digital media landscape.

As Saurabh Dwivedi steps into new professional avenues, his legacy at Lallantop and India Today Hindi stands as a reminder of what sustained vision, audience understanding, and editorial courage can achieve in India’s rapidly evolving media ecosystem.

Business

Ishq FM Sale Falls Through as TV Today Terminates Deal with CCAMPL

Tanisha Cardozo

The planned sale of TV Today Network’s FM radio business has collapsed after Creative Channel Advertising and Marketing Pvt. Ltd. (CCAMPL) withdrew from the agreement. The India Today Group-owned broadcaster has formally terminated its sale and advertising agreements with CCAMPL, ending a ₹20 crore deal that aimed to offload its Ishq FM operations in Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata.

The termination was confirmed via a regulatory filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE). According to the filing, CCAMPL issued a formal email on September 9, 2025, citing its inability to proceed with the proposed transaction. As a result, both the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and an Advertising Sales Agreement have been dissolved.

The MoU, signed earlier in 2025, was part of a broader strategy by TV Today to exit the FM broadcasting sector, following a Board resolution dated January 9, 2025. The deal was valued at ₹20 crore and was structured for completion in two tranches—₹10 crore at the time of signing and ₹10 crore upon deal closure, subject to regulatory clearances. CCAMPL was also engaged to act as an advertising sales agent for the FM stations, with professional fees attached.

TV Today had already received approval from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) to transfer its FM operations to its wholly owned subsidiary, Vibgyor Broadcasting Private Limited. The approval, issued on August 20, 2025, covered three Ishq FM stations broadcasting at 104.8 FM across Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

The company had earlier updated investors through multiple disclosures, noting progress and anticipated timelines. The transaction was expected to be completed by January 31, 2026, making CCAMPL’s sudden withdrawal a major disruption in the strategic shift away from FM radio.

The collapse of the deal underscores ongoing challenges in the FM radio industry, where revenues have come under pressure due to shifts in digital media consumption, advertising declines, and increased operating costs. For now, TV Today Network retains its radio assets under the Vibgyor brand, and its next steps in divesting or reimagining the business remain uncertain.