The Independent makes move into Indian radio

The publisher of The Independent has bought into a growing Indian radio group.

Independent News and Media has acquired a 20 per cent stake in Radio Mantra, which owns a radio licence in the city of Hissar, and is looking to expand elsewhere in India by tapping into Hindi-speaking markets.

Mantra is part of the Jagran Group, a radio company that has licences in eight cities in the north and east of India.

Independent News and Media chief operating officer Gavin O'Reilly told Indian media and marketing website Agencyfaqs.com: “The radio business in India in the coming years looks good because of the prospering Indian economy.

"Through this association, we look forward to cashing in on the growth in this sector.”