The Indian government was considering setting up a self-regulatory 'Media Commission', said S. Jaipal Reddy a few days before he was replaced by Priyaranjan Dasmunshi as the government's information and broadcasting minister. More...

Mr Reddy made the announcement at a media event recently and added that the limits on press freedom will not be drawn by either the government or by any law. Media has to draw the limits on its own.

Expressing concerns over the present state of media, Reddy said, "The business is going up, eyeballs are going up, but what Indian media should ask itself is whether the credibility is also going up or not. And if the credibility is not going up, then how can media remain influential?"

However, no details were provided on the scope of the commission or the time frame within which it will get established.

Shortly thereafter, in a surprise reshuffle of ministries, Mr Reddy was moved to the Urban Development Ministry. Priyaranjan Dasmunshi has been appointed as the new I&B Minister.

A self-confessed liberal, Reddy's tenure saw many major reforms like allowing foreign newspapers to have facsimile editions, Phase II expansion of FM radio and foreign investment reforms in various media sectors.

In wake of two failed licensing relationships, International Data Group (IDG) has forayed into the Indian market with two titles, 'Real CIO World' and 'Services Outsourcing World'. It will also shortly launch 'PC World' and 'Computer World'.

In 2000, CIO had made its presence in India, but that lasted only for a few months. This was through a licensed agreement between Bangalore-based Technology Media Group (TMG) and IDG. But the magazine was discontinued with the closure of TMG.

In a similar licensed agreement with Media Transasia, IDG's other titles PC World, and Computer World were also launched in India. These magazines were also discontinued.

IDG, the international technology publication group, has taken advantage of the recent changes in federal policy permitting 100 per cent FDI in the scientific / technical / specialty publishing segment.

CIO has started off as a controlled circulation publication with an initial print run of 6,000 copies.

Patrick McGovern, Chairman of the Board of International Data Group Inc, said, "This publication will inform corporate and technology executives around the world about the best business practices in selecting an outsourcing vendor, negotiating an outsourcing contract, and monitoring the execution of that contract. Since many of the leading outsourcing vendors in the world are located in India, it is very appropriate that 'Services Outsourcing World' is managed and produced by the team at IDG India, and then circulated worldwide."

Based on a controlled circulation model, 'Services Outsourcing World' would be having a circulation of 30,000 copies, of these 27,000 copies would be circulated to qualified audiences across the world and the balance 10 per cent, (3,000 copies) were for circulation to advertisers and trade in India, the Philippines, and other service provider markets, as well as for promotional activities.

International Newspaper Marketing Association (INMA) conducted its first ever-global forum in India, in Mumbai, bringing newspaper marketing and commercial opportunities here.

INMA's Global Forum saw some of the who's who of the Indian print market make their presence here. The forum's theme was 'Bringing the World of Newspapers To India'.

The event focussed on circulation and advertising development, new product development, integrating the Internet into business plans, and strategies for the future. The attempt was to identify threats newspapers face, and the opportunities that newspapers and media companies have going forward.

In his speech McPherson, President INMA and Managing Director of McPherson Media Group delved further into how newspapers were brands that were seeing extension to other mediums like digital, radio, pay promotions and so on and drew examples from the group itself, giving instances of its Ideas Magazine. He added, "We are growing - fast and the idea is to explore cues which will benefit the industry at large."

Anurag Batra, MD-Publisher, exchange4media Group and Smiti Ruia, Publisher, Time Out Mumbai magazine have been inducted as the two new members.

A spate of other launches
The climax in the Indian print publishing sector is only getting better, what with a spate of new launches.

Amar Ujala to launch Dharamsala edition
After Madhya Pradesh, it's now the turn of Himachal Pradesh to see some action from the Hindi newspapers, and Dharamsala seems to be the hot favourite of media houses. Dharamsala, which already has players like Divya Himachal, Punjab Kesari, and the recently-launched Dainik Jagran, will now have see Amar Ujala entering the fray.

After Hindustan, Rajasthan Patrika also plans to join Madhya Pradesh media war
A new battle ground is being created as the state of Madhya Pradesh in Central India readies itself to a launch by HT Media's Hindi Daily - Hindustan and the Rajasthan Patrika group's announcement of the launch its own Hindi newspaper. The state currently dominated by the Bhaskar group has a huge potential for a strong number 2 Hindi daily. Rajasthan Patrika has decided to venture into the MP and Chattisgarh market and the company also announced that it is in talks with some local players for its entries into the two states. Also the Dainik Hindustan has also declared its intentions in a statement to venture into Madhya Pradesh in five months' time.

Business and management monthly, 'Chennai Corporate News', to debut in December
'Chennai Corporate News', a new business and management monthly, is to be launched soon in a tabloid form. Published by the Chennai HR Forum, the publishers are confident of touching a circulation of 10,000 copies.

In a statement, the publishing group said that the magazines objectives are to reach to the decision makers in the industries and bring the entire management process to global standards. The revenue model to be followed for its publication is not-for- profit and is going to be advertising led. The magazine would initially be priced at INR 5.

Microsoft in talks with Times Group to launch Electronic Programme Guide, IPTV on the cards
The Times of India group's web portal Indiatimes is on its way of getting its most important client with Microsoft India talking to it for a Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) to be launched in India for its new Windows Media Centre PC.

Microsoft India sources confirmed this saying that preliminary talks are on with the Times Group and others to collate and provide us the data for the service. The service will be available for free to all users of Windows XP Media Center PC.

Fourth Dimension Media launches Hindi magazine
Fourth Dimension launched its third title named Vichar Saransh in Hindi language. The fortnightly magazine, at INR 5, focuses on socio-political news with major focus on states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Fourth Dimension Media Pvt Ltd, backed by the Ozone group of companies, has two women's magazines namely Woman and Meri Sangini. The latest launch will also have various promotions through the music medium, which would include organizing folk music nights.

Bhaskar plans to launch Aha! Zindagi in Gujarati in January 2006
Following the successful launch of Hindi lifestyle magazine Aha Zindagi, the Bhaskar gorup will launch the magazine's Gujarati language version. Sources confirmed that the launch is being planned for January 2006 and the intitial print run is estimated to be more than 70.000 copies.

Aha Zindagi (Hindi) experienced immediate success, with it reaching a circulation of 135,000 copies (ABC Jan to Jun 05) and readership of 595,000 readers (NRS 05) in its first year of operation.

Foretell Business Solutions launches 'Commodities & Derivates' magazineForetell Business Solutions Pvt Ltd, which is in the commodity business, has launched a new magazine, 'Commodities & Derivatives'. The first-of-its-kind monthly magazine aims to provide a regular platform to update the players in the market of the latest developments in products, markets, technology and business environment.

The magazine is priced at Rs 30. The magazine will target top management executives, CEOs, MDs, board members and heads of trading.