Author: Akanksha Nagar

South India and content partnerships to drive Pay TV margins in 2025

BrandPulse report underscores the need for dynamic and engaging content that can quickly capture and hold audience attention.

Pay TV channels in the country are facing tight revenue margins as content acquisition and operational costs continue to rise, prompting them to raise concerns with government and regulatory authorities. However, southern India with lower ARPUs, along with youth-centric content and partnership opportunities, could offer much-needed relief.

BREAKING: Ashwini Vaishnaw announces $1 billion fund to boost creators’ economy

The minister highlighted that VVDN’s new facility is designed for high-volume, complex product assembly, including AI servers, networking gear and large-scale PCBs, the SMT Line boasts a remarkable throughput of 250,000 components per hour.

Speaking at Global Media Dialogue ahead of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), Minister of I&B Ashwini Vaishnaw shared that country’s first Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) will be established in Film City, Mumbai for which Rs 391 crore has already been sanctioned.

Govt mulls fast track court mechanism to resolve cyber crime: MeitY tells Parliamentary Committee

IT Agreement carries a significant impact, particularly regarding trade in IT products, digital industrial policy, and the need for flexibility in applying tariffs to regulate imports.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology briefed the parliamentary panel on tackling cyber crime effectively and expeditiously in the country, and preventive measures taken to ensure that cyber frauds are held under check.

DPDPA Rules may hinder MSMEs from leveraging digital tools for marketing and growth

Many MSME members have expressed to ISF that the current overall regulatory framework for personal data and non-personal data is overly restrictive, creating compliance burdens that hinder their ability to market effectively, engage with customers, and grow their businesses. (Image source: ISF)

Given the spate of legislative and regulatory developments impacting data collection and processing in India, including draft DPDPA rules and draft Digital Competition Bill, MSMEs fear overly restrictive policies may limit ability to leverage digital tools for marketing, customer engagement, and business growth.

1,159 MSOs licenses cancelled; only 843 registered with I&B Ministry as of Feb’25

In August 2024, there were over 850 registered MSOs and a year before that, the number stood at 998. (Representative image by Erik Mclean via Unsplash)

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, as of February 28, 2025, 114 Multi-system operators (MSOs) applications have been cancelled/rejected and 1045 MSOs registrations have been surrendered/expired.

Businesses gear up for DPDP Rules with privacy policy updates, appoint Data Officers

Tech giants Google, Meta, YouTube, and Snap have earlier raised similar concerns over the Digital Personal Data Protection Act's restrictions on behavioural tracking.

From Meta to Muthoot Fincorp and Fynd, companies across sectors are looking for Data Protection Officers to comply with draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rule, while also strengthening data security measures and building data governance structures.

DoT to issue notice to Vi for missing date to submit Rs 6,091 crore bank guarantee

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in India to block access to a new set of websites allegedly involved in unauthorized distribution of Star India's copyrighted content.

Department of Telecommunications (DoT) earlier directed Vodafone Idea to either furnish the guarantee or make a cash payment of Rs 5,493 crore by March 10.

Who can replace Big B on KBC? Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai top polls

"Amitabh Bachchan should continue till he can” was the response of as much as 42% of the respondents surveyed, as per the IIHB and Rediffusion’s Red Lab report.

As Sony TV considers Amitabh Bachchan’s successor as the host of KBC, research by the Indian Institute of Human Brands and Rediffusion’s Red Lab has shortlisted top contenders, including Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, MS Dhoni, Harsha Bhogle, and Anil Kapoor.

Global smartwatch market witnesses first-ever decline; fell 7% in 2024

Weakness in the basic smartwatch market originated in India, where consumer demand waned due to a slow replacement cycle, lack of innovation, and unsatisfactory user experiences among first-time buyers, according to the Counterpoint report. (Image source: Unsplash)

According to the Counterpoint Research report, the smartwatch market is expected to recover slowly and witness single-digit percentage growth in 2025. Both Android and iOS smartwatches are expected to integrate more AI capabilities and advanced sensors.