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The
federal government of India has given the media another boost
by allowing investment in non-news publications up to 100
per cent. More... |
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The
reach of the print medium (dailies and magazines combined) has
increased from 179 million to 200 million people in the last
three years, according to the National Readership Survey - 2005.
More... |
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Ireland-based
Independent Printing Company Limited will invest US $ 35.71 million
for a stake of 26 per cent in Jagarn Prakashan. More... |
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Bennett,
Coleman & Co (BCCL) has offloaded its entire 8.55 per cent stake
in Mid Day Multimedia. Mid Day informed the Bombay Stock Exchange
of the sale, which happened on June 16, 2005. In March, BCCL had
offloaded 13,88,313 shares of Mid Day in the open market. More... |
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The
Sun TV Network is reportedly in the process of acquiring 100 per
cent equity of the Dinakaran group of publications. The Dinakaran
daily in Tamil language may be re-launched shortly following the
takeover. More... |
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Ananda
Vikatan, the Tamil weekly, has tried an innovative marketing strategy
of offering 3-D glasses to its readers to see 3-d images. More... |
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India
Today group launches Indian edition of 'Scientific American' More... |
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1, 2004 | January
1, 2005
February 1, 2005 | March
1, 2005 | April
1, 2005 | May
1, 2005 | June
1, 2005 |
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| Indian
Govt. allows 100 % foreign investment |
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The federal government of India has
given the media another boost by allowing investment in non-news
publications up to 100 per cent.
The existing
cap of 74 per cent was set by the previous NDA government, when
it decided to open print media to foreign players.
This would mean
that all kinds of foreign non-news scientific, technical, speciality
magazines, periodicals and journals would be allowed to be published
and sold in India.
The move was
awaited by all in the media industry both Indian and International,
while there was continuing pressure of opposition on the federal
government from various sections to prevent such a move.
There still would be consent to be taken from the Information and
Broadcasting Ministry for both FDI and FII. For portfolio investments,
the Reserve Bank of India - RBI can be approached directly after
obtaining NOC from the I & B ministry.
The federal government also declared in the release that the Guidelines
of the Ministry of Finance on FDI and portfolio investment would
apply and also the title verification shall continue to be done
by the Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) as per the existing
procedure.
The limits would cover foreign funds, overseas corporate bodies,
non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin to invest in Indian
newspaper companies.
In other decisions,
the government has allowed FII investments up to 26% in news-based
print media, and raised the level of syndicated content in local
publications from the present level of 7.5 per cent to 20 per cent |
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| Print
medium reach rises to 200 m in India |
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The reach of the print medium (dailies and magazines combined) has
increased from 179 million to 200 million people in the last three
years, according to the National Readership Survey - 2005.
Though the urban readership share fell from 48 per cent to 46 per
cent, it was made up for by the rural areas, where the reach of
dailies and magazines increased from 17 per cent to 19 per cent.
Also the survey observed that the number of readers in rural India
was almost equal to urban India because of rising literacy rates.
The survey also observed that the growth of supplements has resulted
in the decline in reader base for magazines in both urban and rural
India.
The most widely read daily is Dainik Jagran. Its nearest competitor
Dainik Bhaskar has also grown. This is due to the fact that literacy
levels have been going up in the states of UP, Bihar and Jharkhand
(the strong Dainik Jagran markets), the survey says. |
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| Independent
to pump in US $ 35.71 m in Hindi daily |
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Ireland-based Independent Printing
Company Limited will invest US $ 35.71 million for a stake of 26
per cent in Jagarn Prakashan.
Jagran Prakashan
has sought federal government's approval for foreign direct investment
(FDI) worth Rs 150 crore. The Jagarn Prakashan company publishes
the largest news daily in the country named 'Dainik Jagran'.
The deal when
worked out will transfer 8,56,770 equity shares of Rs 10 each (at
a premium of Rs 456.928 per share) from the existing resident shareholders
to the Ireland-based foreign collaborator.
At present Government
policy allows FDI up to 26% in publishing newspapers dealing with
news and current affairs, subject to verification of antecedents
of foreign investor; keeping editorial and management control in
the hands of resident Indian.
The other riders attached are that
the 'investor director' shall not have any say in matters pertaining
to editorial content or in relation to editorial staff. More specifically,
the appointment of chief executive officer and chief financial officer
should not require the positive vote of the 'investor director'.
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| Times
group exits Mid Day |
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Bennett, Coleman & Co (BCCL) has offloaded its entire 8.55 per
cent stake in Mid Day Multimedia. Mid Day informed the Bombay Stock
Exchange of the sale, which happened on June 16, 2005. In March,
BCCL had offloaded 13,88,313 shares of Mid Day in the open market.
BCCL had picked up a 8.55 per cent stake for Rs 12 crore in October
2004 through its financial company Ban Hem Financial Investment
Consultancy. And the deal was brokered by J M Morgan Stanley. Post
this sale, Ban Hem now holds just 0.1 per cent. |
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| Tamil
publishing company likely to be taken over by a tv company |
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The
Sun TV Network is reportedly in the process of acquiring 100 per
cent equity of the Dinakaran group of publications. The Dinakaran
daily in Tamil language may be re-launched shortly following the
takeover.
If the development does happen, Dinakaran will mark the group's
entry into the daily segment. The media giant SUN already has Kungumam
in its fold in the weekly segment, which was ranked the highest
read Tamil weekly and fourth largest read weekly (All India) according
to NRS 2005, with a readership of over 55 lakhs.
Earlier, in media interactions, Kalanidhi Maran of the Sun Network
had indicated that the group's entry into the daily segment would
happen sometime around June 2005.
Talk of the takeover has been in the market for sometime now. The
Dinakaran group is presently managed by K Kumaran, son of promoter
and former Minister (late) KP Kandaswamy.
However, owners of the television network and the publishing house
have scotched these reports as mere "rumours".
Besides its flagship Dinakaran daily, the group publishes eveningers
Malai Murasu (3 of its editions) and Tamizh Murasu (five editions),
Yogalatchumi (lottery-based), and weekly magazines Vaniga Ulagam
(business) and Velai Vazhikatti (employment).
Dinakaran daily has nine editions in Tamil Nadu, and claims a circulation
of around 3,25,000 copies in Tamil Nadu, with 85,000 copies sold
in Chennai (1,25,000 in Chennai on Sundays). Dinakaran is known
for its extensive coverage of cinema. It is sold at Rs.3 on weekdays
and Rs.5 on Sundays. |
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| Tamil
weekly gives 3-D glasses to readers to see images |
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Ananda Vikatan, the Tamil weekly, has tried an
innovative marketing strategy of offering 3-D glasses to its readers
to see 3-d images.
In copies of its issue dated June 26, 2005, a total of 16 pages
have been dedicated to the specially created images, and the weekly
handed out viewing glasses for readers to view the images, free
with the magazine.
Vikatan is in the process of inviting advertisers and agencies to
feature in the publication in the 3-D format, and is hopeful of
this taking off in the coming weeks. Following its successful innovation
in content with the special series on Rajnikant, the publication
is planning to make the 3-D images a regular feature for 'some more
time'.
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India
Today group launches Indian edition of 'Scientific American'
The world's foremost and oldest science and technology magazine
published since 1845 will be now printed by the India Today Group
as the Indian edition of Scientific American. In India, the title
will be known as Scientific American India and will have the insight
of current trends in the fields of science and technology and their
relevance to the daily lives of people.
Management guru Arindam Chaudhari launches 'Business &
Economy' magazine
After authoring books and directing films, management guru Arindam
Chaudhari has launched a fortnightly magazine, Business & Economy
(B&E). According to him, it will be positioned as the most influential
business and economy magazine.
The magazine has been priced at Rs 10 (US cents 27).
Jasubhai
Group to launch fortnightly magazine 'CTO Forum' in August
The
Jasubhai Group is planning to launch a fortnightly magazine addressing
the community of CIOs and CTOs, titled 'CTO Forum' (CTOF). The launch
is scheduled for August 2005, and the publication hopes to circulate
30,000 copies of the magazine initially and scale up thereafter. |
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The
newsletter - Indian Media Observer - is produced by Chronosphere’s
CEO Bhupesh Trivedi personally.
Chronosphere is based at G-1, Kusum Kunj, Plot No. 66, Sher-e-Punjab Colony,
Andheri (East), Mumbai – 400093, INDIA |
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