Radio has been recognized as a powerful medium in the media, advertising and content mix; providing reach to a wide range of audiences, especially with the advent of digital options, funding sources and constant innovations. The forum will focus on issues including whether India is keeping up with the world trends in radio; what the predictions are for India's radio scene; how many players are too many; is digital radio a good option for India or a fancy gimmick; etc. The IRF will witness head honchos as they debate the importance of emerging technologies and new markets.

The forum is targeted at media professionals, radio station management, radio marketing executives, radio promotion executives, radio sales executives, advertising agencies, PR executives, media buyers and planners, consultants and specialists, and government regulatory bodies.

The IRF sessions will cover topics of the future of radio in five years; Digital - the next big thing; programming radio for real people and not for radio programmers; Broadening the reach: Planning for radio; what if advertising spots on radio were banned; radio and the media mix; and the radio pitch challenge.

The IRF will also see the Excellence in Radio Awards (ERA) ceremony. The ERA is an internationally recognised benchmark of excellence in programming, radio talent, marketing and promotions, and advertising.

Speakers at the IRF include Abhijit Avasthi, National Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather; Amit Tiwari, General Manager-Country Head Media, Philips India; Ashit Kukian, COO, Radio City 91.1 FM; B. Surendar, Senior VP and National Sales Head, Red FM; and Danish Khan, VP and Head of Marketing, Sony Entertainment Television; among others.