MUMBAI: London-based United Radio Consultants has announced a partnership with Jack FM brand owner SparkNet Communications which will develop opportunities for Indian radio operators.

Jack FM has a Playing What We Want... positioning statement, and has become the leader of the successful Adult Hits radio format and a global brand with more than 16 million listeners, says a release.

United Radio Partner in Delhi, Sunil Kumar, explains: A solution based around the JACK concept is very well timed. We think JACK is a fantastic opportunity in India because it could be the way for an existing operator to redefine itself and truly own its audience. Alternatively, a newcomer could enter the market with something distinctive. In terms of a starting point, we're working to develop something home-grown and localised for individual Indian markets....

United Radio Senior Partner Paul Chantler adds, When we first explored how JACK might work in the fast-moving market of India, we quickly sensed the importance of furnishing our partner stations with research, music scheduling, brand-building, advertising and sales support. But it's really all about listeners chiming with JACK's fresh, irreverent tone and its completely different approach to music radio. We know any application of this format in India has to be uniquely developed with its own broadcasters - and working directly with radio groups in India enables us to do just that....

SparkNet EVP of Licensing Ken Benson says, We're not interested in simply trying to export the JACK brand into India. That wouldn't succeed and, besides, it wouldn't be any fun! We want to collaborate with Indian broadcasters to create one or more JACK-like radio brands that work across India. I'm talking about something which is Indian-born-and-bred, but which captures the spirit and success of JACK....