December 2024 – Page 11

YouTube to crack down on ‘egregious’ clickbait in India

According to YouTube, creators who use a combination of automated and manual mid-roll ads have seen an average revenue increase of over 5% compared to those who manually place all their mid-roll ads.

With plans to increase enforcement against videos ‘whose title or thumbnail promises viewers something that the video doesn’t deliver’, Google says YouTube will start by slowly rolling out its fight against clickbait in India over the coming months.

Elon Musk’s X raises subscription rates in India

Under the new structure, the Premium+ plan—which offers an ad-free experience, priority support, and enhanced algorithmic visibility—has increased to Rs 1,750 per month on the web, up from the previous Rs 1,300.

New subscription rates took effect on December 21, 2024, while existing subscribers will be facing changes after January 20, 2025.

TRAI’s latest amendments mandate affordable Voice+SMS packs

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

Under Telecom Consumer Protection Regulations, TRAI has introduced certain amendments including a separate mandate for Special Tariff Voucher (STV) for Voice & SMS to give consumers an option to pay for the services they require.

NCLAT approves Sapphire Media’s acquisition of Big 92.7 FM

Big FM's acquisition strengthens Sapphire Media's expansion efforts in the media sector.

Dismissing appeals filed by Radio Mirchi, Orange FM, and others, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld the approval of Sapphire Media’s resolution plan for acquiring Big 92.7 FM.

Storyboard18’s Global Pioneers Summit: Prasoon Joshi to unpack India’s brand of creativity in its techade

An ardent advocate for creative excellence, Prasoon's contributions have won numerous accolades, including Cannes Lions.

A can’t-miss forum for forward-thinking leaders, the Global Pioneers Summit in March 2025 brings together top innovators and decision-makers to share disruptive ideas and cultivate meaningful partnerships. Join luminaries such as Prasoon Joshi to elucidate strategies for harnessing transformative creativity with impactful storytelling.

From Paytm to Flipkart, India’s top startups let go of thousands of employees in 2024

10,000 jobs lost in 2024 as Indian startups face financial woes

In 2024, Paytm accounted for 3,500 layoffs, which represented 49 per cent of the total layoffs. Other notable layoffs included Flipkart (1,100-1,500 employees), Unacademy (900 employees), Byju’s (500 employees), etc.

E-comm records 141% growth in UPI transaction volume in FY24

PayNearby latest report highlighted a significant growth in cash withdrawal transactions in Northeast India, with Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Assam leading the way in digital financial inclusion.

PayNearby India, the branchless banking and digital network, in its latest report ‘Retail-O-Nomics’ highlighted a 33% increase in Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions at retail stores, underscoring the growing adoption of digital payments beyond Tier II regions in the country.

Only 19% smartphone users willing to pay premium for a Gen AI-enabled phone

Generative AI (Gen AI) was familiar to 32% of the respondents in the survey conducted by Counterpoint Research.

According to the Counterpoint Research’s latest findings smartphone manufacturers may need to adopt low-cost entry models for the artificial intelligence-enabled phones segment.

Legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal, icon of Indian cinema, passes away at 90

One of his more poignant works was the 1976 Manthan. Funded by over 500,000 farmers, Manthan stands as a cinematic tribute to India’s White Revolution.

Just days before his death, Benegal had celebrated his 90th birthday on December 14 with a star-studded gathering of friends, family, and colleagues.