Author: Imran Fazal

Vivendi shareholders approve spinoff for Canal+, Havas and Louis Hachette Group

According to JP Morgan, Canal+ is estimated to be worth 6 billion euros ($6.3 billion), Havas is valued at 2.5 billion euros and Louis Hachette is estimated at 2.2 billion euros.

Yannick Bollore, chairman of Vivendi’s supervisory board, last month estimated the total value of Vivendi’s assets at around 16 billion euros, with Canal+, Havas and Louis Hachette being worth about 6.8 billion, 3.4 billion and 2.1 billion euros respectively.

RMG players sidelined by MIB for WAVES, seek equal treatment

In a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, AIDCF stated, "Unlike traditional distribution platform operators (DPOs), these services do not seem to be subject to the same regulatory scrutiny, potentially creating an uneven playing field for Pay TV operators.

The WAVES 2025 will be held from February 5–9 in New Delhi, focusing on four key pillars: Broadcasting & Infotainment, Digital Media & Innovation, AVGC-XR, and Films.

MIB addressed 73 complaints in three years over obscene ads: Govt informs Parliament

In a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, AIDCF stated, "Unlike traditional distribution platform operators (DPOs), these services do not seem to be subject to the same regulatory scrutiny, potentially creating an uneven playing field for Pay TV operators.

In 2017, the MIB, in an advisory, had instructed TV channels to not air ads selling and promoting condoms between 6 am and 10 pm, as the ads were “alleged to be indecent, especially for children”.

TRAI to hold open house discussion on Dec 17 for network authorisations

The Central Government will now review TRAI’s recommendations before finalising the regulations under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

Multiple stakeholders have strongly opposed these recommendations suggesting that TRAI should limit its recommendations to carriage-related aspects of broadcasting.

TRAI should limit its recommendations to carriage related aspects of broadcasting: IBDF

TRAI had underscored that “such a regulatory arbitrage is likely to topple the competitive balance in the industry towards such free-of-cost service providers” and emphasized that this “anomaly” could not be ignored.

FICCI suggested that content regulation must remain under dedicated legislation and within the jurisdiction of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Dish TV and Airtel call to bring Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform under TRAI’s ambit

Leading Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) brands Amul and Mondelez are now advertising on Prasar Bharati's over-the-top (OTT) platform, WAVES.

Stakeholders are calling to bring Prasar Bharati’s recently launched family-friendly over-the-top (OTT) platform, WAVES, under TRAI’s regulatory framework. WAVES was launched on November 20, 2024.

Shorts falling short?: YouTube plays catch-up with ad blitz for its short video feature

An analyst in the IoT space added, “The premiumization trend in the country has reduced the effectiveness of ‘spray and pray’ advertising on digital formats.

YouTube is playing catch-up with an aggressive ad blitz for Shorts, targeting brands. Will it be able to reel in advertisers? Big tech companies are also facing competition from homegrown Short Format Video (SFV) platforms taking away brands’ attention and budgets.

TRAI to meet broadcasters, DPOs on 5 December for consultation on audit related provisions

TRAI had underscored that “such a regulatory arbitrage is likely to topple the competitive balance in the industry towards such free-of-cost service providers” and emphasized that this “anomaly” could not be ignored.

Storyboard18 had first reported about the clash between Broadcasters and DPOs around the audit-related provisions of the Interconnection Regulations, 2017, and the Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual.