The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has released the names of 19 pre-qualified bidders for the third batch of Phase III e-auctions of private FM radio channels. To help bidders prepare, the Ministry has scheduled a mock auction on Monday, June 30, starting at 9:30 AM. The session will be conducted by MSTC, the government’s official e-auctioneer. All shortlisted participants are advised to configure their systems ahead of time, and technical support will be available via a dedicated helpdesk and email. Bidders were shortlisted based on their Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) and Initial Eligibility Points (IEP). Leading the pack is DB Corp’s Radio Division, which submitted the highest EMD of Rs 8 crore and earned 3,200 eligibility points. Other key players include, Sapphire Media: Rs 7 crore EMD, 2,800 points, Malar Publications (Hello FM): Rs 4.31 crore EMD, 1,723 points, Rajasthan Patrika (FM Tadka): Rs 4 crore EMD, 1,600 points, HT Media (Fever FM, Radio Nasha): Rs

Starting June 26, 2025 (Week 24), BARC India will shift from its current four-week rolling average format to releasing weekly TV viewership ratings. This move aims to improve clarity and offer quicker insights for the television industry,according to e4m. However, the weekly ratings system isn’t new, BARC used it before its 18-month suspension in 2022. However, since then, ratings were shared as monthly averages, which many felt couldn’t keep pace with fast-moving news content. Broadcasters like NDTV, Zee Media and iTV Network even exited the BARC system, citing concerns over transparency and outdated data. With the return of weekly numbers, advertisers and networks expect faster, more accurate data. This change is expected to improve campaign decisions, help identify viewer trends quickly, and offer broadcasters a more real-time pulse on their audience.

Image source; The Print, Indus Dispatch and OpIndia; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   Five decades after June 25, 1975, India is still haunted by what all media reports called its “darkest chapter.” That night, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a national Emergency under Article 352, citing “internal disturbance.” The trigger: the Allahabad High Court had just found her guilty of electoral malpractice, invalidating her 1971 victory. But the crackdown that followed was clearly political—and deeply personal. Hot off the Press As Suhas Palshikar wrote in the Indian Express, this wasn’t just a reaction to legal trouble. It was a bid to “override dissent, discredit opposition and defang institutions.” Thousands of leaders were jailed—Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, George Fernandes, LK Advani among them. The Hindustan Times' Jasjeev Gandhiok, Jignasa Sinha, Nishant Ranjan and Roshan Kishore recounted how the nasbandi (forced sterilization) drive led by Sanj

Antoinette Lattouf - pic AAP.  The ABC breached the Fair Work Act when it terminated casual broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf for reasons including that she held a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, the federal court has found. Justice Darryl Rangiah upheld Lattouf’s claim heard in the federal court in February that she was unlawfully terminated in December 2023 when her on-air shifts were cut short three days into a five-day stint hosting Sydney Mornings.  

  News the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is taking federal proceedings against News Corp Australia, Mamamia, and a Sydney-based PR agency for unlawfully promoting medicinal cannabis products in articles published between 2022 and 2023, was first reported by Calum Jaspan and Kate Aubusson in The Age earlier this week. The story has been ably followed up by Lauren Macnamara at Mumbrella who also gives lots of detail. The TGA alleges News Corp’s Body + Soul and Mamamia published online articles in contravention of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, following a marketing campaign by Atlus, a website and dispensary specialising in alternative medicine, and its agency, Straight Up PR. The articles are alleged to include testimonials and endorsements from individuals who, by the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code, are prohibited from giving them. Have a read of The Age and Mumbrella stories for all the details. 

The Karnataka government is drafting a new law to curb misinformation on social media, proposing jail terms of up to seven years and fines up to Rs 10 lakh for spreading harmful fake news. According to the Hindustan Times, the Karnataka Misinformation and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025, will apply to content that endangers public health, safety, peace, or the electoral process, including posts from outside the state targeting Karnataka residents. Lesser offences, such as posts that disturb public order or elections, may attract two to five years’ imprisonment and fines. The bill also penalises aiding or abetting the spread of fake news, with provisions for up to two years’ jail. A new Fake News on Social Media Regulatory Authority, chaired by the Kannada and Culture Minister and including lawmakers, social media representatives and a senior IAS officer, will be established to oversee enforcement. “Misinformation” refers to knowingly or recklessly spreading false claim

Image source: CBS, CNBC and India Today; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   The conflict in West Asia took a sharp and dangerous turn on June 23, when Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Ain al-Assad in Iraq, both housing U.S. forces. The strikes were retaliation for earlier American attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and came just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Hot off the Press According to The Times of India, the Iranian missiles—fired as part of Operation True Promise 3—targeted U.S. installations with advance warning sent to both Qatar and Washington, helping limit damage and avoid casualties. Still, the symbolic weight of the attack is immense: it was the first direct Iranian strike on U.S. military infrastructure in Qatar, a key strategic ally. The Economic Times reported that Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain and Iraq all shut down their airspace in response. Flights were rerou