Prasar Bharati has released the list of 60 stakeholders awarded MPEG-2 slots on DD Freedish after six days of bidding, concluding the re-auction process.  The number of slots sold is lower than the 64 auctioned in 2024, reflecting speculation about fewer bidders this year.  The slots are valid from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, with auctions held from February 10 to 14, 2025. Major General Entertainment Channels (GECs), including JioStar, Sony and Zee Entertainment, participated in the 7th annual Freedish e-auction. Prasar Bharati faced scrutiny over declining bidding prices at the start of Round 2, with concerns about information leaks and alleged cartelisation. Despite these issues, the pubcaster moved forward with the auction and is set to release final revenue figures from the process.  Revenue from the 2025-26 e-auctions has dropped by Rs 200-300 crore compared to previous years. Prasar Bharati earned Rs 1,157 crore in 2024 by selling 64 MPEG-2 slots, while the 20

Figures released today - Monday - for the last 12 months by Roy Morgan show Nine newspapers have healthy readership numbers against competitors, with the Sydney Morning Herald cementing its position as Australia’s most read cross-platform masthead, with a readership of 6.9 million, according to the Total News Publishing figures.  The latest figures for the 12-month period ending December 2024 reveal one in three Australians chose the Herald to stay informed during that period. The masthead dominates the cross-platform landscape with 6.857 million readers compared News Corp's The Daily Telegraph readership of 3.978 million.  The Monday to Friday SMH print edition recorded an average issue readership of 374,000, while Saturday’s print edition recorded 479,000 readers. In the last four weeks, 1.35 million people on average have read a print edition of the Herald, while the News Corp owned The Sun Herald print edition is read by 371,000 people every Sunday, according to th

ACM - Australia's largest regional publisher - has told employees a number of jobs will be lost from the print production team, just three months after the last wave of redundancies at the regional media group, reports Mumbrella. The outlet reports ACM informed the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance union that as many as nine staff from the print production team — around a third of the team — will be made redundant, just three months after 35 jobs were lost across 11 newsrooms.  This latest cuts includes some of the “longest standing and most experienced sub editors and journalists” in the company, according to MEAA, tasked with quality control, and creating international and national pages for many ACM papers, “which hundreds of thousands of Australians read and rely on”. The union has also expressed concern that several of the company’s daily printed mastheads could be reduced to Saturday-only printed editions, after eight newspapers were shut down in Sept

Pedestrian Group, a leading Australian digital youth publisher and broadcaster, has launched its first ever digital cover spotlighting a diverse group of changemakers who the publisher said embody the spirit of Mardi Gras, from artists to activists, entrepreneurs to entertainers. The aim is to shine a light on those who are making an impact and breaking barriers. “The launch of our first digital cover, especially as part of Mardi Gras, is a testament to Pedestrian Group’s commitment to celebrating stories that matter,” said Mason Rook, CEO of Pedestrian Group, which is a subsidiary of Nine. “Culture Makers & Game Changers is more than a feature, Rook said. “It’s a platform to amplify voices, foster inclusivity, and connect with the pulse of Australia’s youth culture. We’re incredibly excited to debut this initiative during one of the most vibrant celebrations of community and pride.” Alex Bruce-Smith, Head of Editorial at Pedestrian Group, said, “Culture Ma

Media professionals Vani Bisht and Shailesh Chaturvedi have launched Kisan India, a video-first digital platform aimed at strengthening rural voices and bridging the gap between farmers, private stakeholders, and the government. The initiative seeks to highlight both the challenges and opportunities in Indian agriculture.  Sharing the news on LinkedIn, Vani Bisht stated that Kisan India strives to shift perceptions of agriculture from a challenge to an opportunity that can drive national prosperity.  With 17 years in media, Bisht is thrilled to embark on this venture alongside senior journalist Chaturvedi, whose 25-year career spans print, electronic, and digital news, including Amar Ujala, Hindustan, Sahara Samay, and Network18.

P Devarajan, veteran business journalist and founding team member of The Hindu Business Line, passed away at 78. He spent much of his career in Mumbai, working with Business Standard and The Financial Express. Known for his expertise across banking, steel, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and corporate affairs, he was regarded as one of India’s most well-rounded business journalists. Describing him as “a doyen of business journalism,” brand journalist Adith Charlie recalled Devarajan’s sharp editorial instincts and firm approach in the newsroom. “He was a terror in the newsroom,” Charlie wrote in a LinkedIn post, recalling his frequent reminder to reporters: “How will your reader know what you are trying to say if you yourself aren’t clear?” Former colleagues remembered his depth of knowledge and leadership. Murali Gopalan, a longtime friend and former colleague, described him as “a man of tremendous integrity and massive brilliance.” He recalled Devarajan’s

US President Donald Trump has dropped a political grenade, claiming that the Biden administration actively backed Rahul Gandhi and the Congress in India’s elections. In a now-viral statement, Trump suggested that the US was “trying to get somebody else elected” in India, setting off a storm of allegations about foreign interference. While the BJP has pounced on the claims to corner the opposition, a parallel controversy over a $21 million USAID fund--initially linked to Indian voter turnout but later clarified to be for Bangladesh--has only added to the chaos. The bigger question now: Was this a genuine attempt at influencing Indian politics, or just Trump being Trump? Hot off the Press As reported by Chidanand Rajghatta for The Times of India, Trump suggested that the Biden administration had attempted to get someone other than Modi elected in India, raising serious concerns over US interference in India’s democratic process. Adding fuel to the fire, Trump openly admitt