HT Media exits key radio markets in Chennai

The company said applications for surrender of the licences are being submitted to the ministry, with operations expected to cease by June 15, 2026

by e4m Staff
Published: May 15, 2026 8:08 PM | 2 min read

HT Media, Radio Nasha, Radio One, Fever FM

HT Media Limited and its subsidiaries will surrender FM radio licences for four stations, including Radio Nasha and Fever FM, due to financial unviability.
The affected stations contributed Rs 29.19 crore to HT Media's turnover in FY25, representing 1.62% of its consolidated revenue, but had a negative net worth of Rs 172.08 crore.
The company plans to cease operations by June 15, 2026, with the licences voluntarily surrendered rather than due to regulatory action.
This decision reflects ongoing challenges in the private FM radio sector, particularly from competition with digital audio streaming and changing advertiser preferences.

HT Media Limited and its subsidiaries have decided to surrender several FM radio licences across key metro markets, marking a significant retrenchment in the company’s radio broadcasting business as the segment struggles with financial viability.

In a regulatory filing submitted to stock exchanges on Thursday, the company said the boards of HT Media, Next Radio Limited and HT Music & Entertainment Company Limited approved the surrender of licences for four radio stations operated under the brands Radio Nasha, Radio One and Fever FM.

The stations impacted include Radio Nasha 91.9 FM in Mumbai, Radio One 94.3 FM in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, and Fever 91.9 FM in Chennai. The licences were issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The company said applications for surrender of the licences are being submitted to the ministry, with operations expected to cease by June 15, 2026.

“The radio stations are considered to be financially and strategically unviable,” the company said in its filing.

The move comes as traditional radio broadcasters continue to face pressure from digital audio streaming platforms, changing advertiser preferences and weak monetisation in legacy FM markets.

According to the disclosure, the affected radio stations contributed Rs 29.19 crore to the company’s turnover in FY25, accounting for 1.62% of HT Media’s consolidated revenue. However, the stations carried a negative net worth of Rs 172.08 crore as of March 31, 2025.

The filing noted that HT Media’s overall consolidated net worth remained positive at approximately Rs 1,666.29 crore during the same period.

The surrendered licences were otherwise valid until 2030 and 2031, indicating that the closures are voluntary rather than regulatory in nature. The company clarified that there was no cancellation or suspension action initiated by authorities.

The decision underscores the broader structural challenges confronting India’s private FM radio industry, particularly in metro markets where audience fragmentation and migration toward on-demand digital content have intensified over the past few years.

HT Media operates across print, digital and radio segments, with flagship media properties including Hindustan Times, Mint and Fever FM.