India

Irish publisher Independent News & Media (INM)has sold its remaining 5.7 per cent stake in Indian publisher Jagran Prakashan Limited (JPL). The stake netted INM €32 million (£26.5 million), which it said will go towards reducing bank debt. INM had already sold most of its stake in the Indian media group, which it first acquired in 2005, over the course of the past year to pay off debt, accptdomg...

A Jharkhand court has given bail to Sudha Pathak, mother of 23-year-old journalist Nirupama Pathak who was found dead in her home April 29, after police failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated 90 days from her arrest. Sudha was arrested on May 3 after her New Delhi-based daughter Nirupama was found dead under mysterious circumstances at her home in Koderma's Chitragupta Nagar. "The...

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has initiated steps to simplify accreditation procedures for foreign journalists in India, according to the Times of India. They will now be able to apply for it online from their respective countries even while applying for a visa, officials said. "We have taken steps to cut down on the time taken for security clearance," said Neelam Kapur, principal director...

The Kerala High court on Monday criticised a section of the media for publishing and telecasting "wrong" reports regarding court proceedings. The observations were made by a division bench, comprising Justice CN Ramachandran Nair and Justice PS Gopinathan, while considering a review petition filed by the state government against the judgment prohibiting conducting roadside meetings. The bench said...

The first Sanskrit newspaper in Gujarat christened Sanskritvartmanpatram will roll out on Sunday. It is only the third of its kind in the country and is the result of enthusiasm of three persons connected with teaching the language and dealing with ancient scriptures. Their effort will now be to provide current affairs and news in Sanskrit, says a Times of India report. A faculty at Baroda...

Vijay Pratap Singh, The Indian Express Senior Reporter who was injured in the blast outside an Uttar Pradesh minister's house in Allahabad on July 12, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday. He would have turned 39 on July 30. He is survived by his wife Shashi, five-year-old son Yash and 10-month-old daughter Adya. Singh was among seven people injured in a bomb attack aimed at UP Institutional...

Broadcasters and advertisers have joined hands to set up the Broadcast Audience Research Council , an independent body to commission market research and provide accurate TV ratings in a transparent and objective manner in India. The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA), the primary members of Broadcast Audience Research Council, will own equity stakes in...

The Press Council of India (PCI) is readying guidelines to check the "paid news" trend in the country. PCI Chairperson Justice G N Ray told The Indian Express that on the anvil could be proposals that suggest that if the Council adjudicates over a complaint and censures a newspaper, the same would have to be carried on the front page of the newspaper. That apart, if a newspaper is censured twice...

Media giants Network 18 Media & Investments and Sun Network Ltd have announced a strategic alliance to launch one of the country's biggest distribution entities by name Sun18. The alliance also marks the entry of Network 18 Group into the Indian television distribution space. Sun18 was the first pan-India distribution company and aims to become one of the dominant players in the around Rs 16,000...

The Indian media industry has seen a few sporadic deals recently and industry players expect further consolidation across all segments. Here are some recent acquisitions and mergers in the Indian media space over the last one year: Network18 to consider selling its stake in London-listed Indian Film Company Ltd(JS6.L) to Viacom 18, a joint venture between its unit IBN18 Broadcast(IBN.BO) and U.S...