News Broadcasting

Digital age hates complacency: Murdoch to newspapers

Published

21 years ago

April 20, 2005

MUMBAI: The digital revolution, courtesy the Internet, is a fast-developing reality that print journalists should grasp as a huge opportunity to improve journalism and expand reach.

This was the core of the message that News Corp chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch delivered during a speech to the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

He noted that scarcely a day goes by without some claim that new technologies are fast writing newsprint’s obituary. “Yet, as an industry, many of us have been remarkably complacent. Certainly, I didn’t do as much as I should have after all the excitement of the late 1990s.

“I suspect many of you in this room did the same, quietly hoping that this thing called the digital revolution would just limp along. Well it hasn’t it won’t,” he warned. Murdoch said he is a digital immigrant.

“I wasn’t weaned on the Web, nor coddled on a computer. Instead, I grew up in a highly centralised world where news and information were tightly controlled by a few editors, who deemed to tell us what we could and should know. My two young daughters, on the other hand, will be digital natives. They’ll never know a world without ubiquitous broadband Internet access.”

Murdoch said the challenge for print journalism would be to apply a digital mindset to a new set of challenges. “We need to realise that the next generation of people accessing news and information have different expectations about the news they get, including when and how they will get it, where they will get it from and who they will get it from.

Murdoch quoted a report by the Carnegie Corporation about young people’s changing habits of news consumption and what they mean for the news industry.

According to this report there is a revolution taking place in the news business today. The future course of news, says the study’s author, Merrill Brown, is being altered by tech-savvy young people no longer wedded to traditional news outlets or even accessing news in traditional ways.

The study illustrates that consumers between the ages of 18-34 are increasingly using the Web as their medium for news consumption. While local TV news remains the most accessed source of news, the Internet, and more specifically, Internet portals, are quickly becoming the favored destination for news among young consumers.

“Only nine per cent of youth describe newspapers as trustworthy, a scant eight per cent find us useful, and only four per cent of respondents think we’re entertaining. Among major news sources, our beloved newspaper is the least likely to be the preferred choice for local, national or international news going forward.

Murdoch stated that the youth want control over their media, instead of being controlled by it. They want to question, to probe, to offer a different angle.

He argued that newspapers in America have been slow to react. Print media owners just sat by and watched while their newspapers have gradually lost circulation. “We all know of great and expensive exceptions to this but the technology is now moving much faster than in the past. Where four out of every five Americans in 1964 read a paper every day, today, only half do. Among just younger readers, the numbers are even worse.”

Why are newspapers in a state of inertia?

According to Murdoch there are a number of reasons. Firstly newspapers as a medium for centuries enjoyed a virtual information monopoly roughly from the birth of the printing press to the rise of radio.

Second, even after the advent of TV, a slow but steady decline in readership was masked by population growth that kept circulations reasonably intact.

Third, even after absolute circulations started to decline in the 1990s, profitability did not.

“But those days are gone. The trends are against us. Fast search engines and targeted advertising as well as editorial, all increase the electronic attractions by a factor of 3 or 4. And at least $4 billion a year is going into R&D to further improve this process.

“So unless we awaken to these changes, we will be relegated to the status of also-rans. But, properly done, they are an opportunity to actually improve our journalism and expand our reach.”

Murdoch said while not one newspaper represented at the meeting lacked a website not many of them can honestly say that they are taking maximum advantage of those websites to serve readers and to strengthen businesses.

The future is not all gloom and doom

Despite this, Murdoch is still confident of the future, both in print and via electronic delivery platforms. After all while data shows that young people aren’t reading newspapers as much as their predecessors it doesn’t show they don’t want news. In fact, they want a lot of news, just faster news of a different kind and delivered in a different way.

“We have unique content to differentiate ourselves in a world where news is becoming increasingly commoditised. And most importantly, we have a great new partner to help us reach this new consumer — the Internet.

“The challenge, however, is to deliver that news in ways consumers want to receive it. In short, we have to answer this fundamental question: what do we a bunch of digital immigrants — need to do to be relevant to the digital natives?

“We probably just need to watch our teenage kids. What do they want to know, and where will they go to get it? They want news on demand, continuously updated. And they want the option to go out and get more information, or to seek a contrary point of view.”

Murdoch said News Corp will continue to invest in printed papers so they remain an important part of the reader’s daily lives.

However, the Internet versions can do even more, especially in providing virtual communities for readers to be linked to other sources of information, other opinions, other like-minded people. To do that it is important to challenge and reformulate — the conventions that so far have driven the online efforts.

He noted that News Corp has a history of challenging media orthodoxies. 20 years ago a fourth broadcast network Fox was created. What was behind that creation was a fundamental questioning of the way people got their nightly entertainment at that point. “We weren’t constrained by the news at six, prime time at eight, news again at 11 paradigm.

“Instead, we shortened the prime time block to two hours, pushed up the news by an hour, and programmed the network to a younger-skewing audience.

“Similarly, we sensed ten years ago that people watching TV news felt alienated by the monolithic presentation of the news they were getting from the nightly news broadcasts or cable networks. We sensed that there was another way we could deliver that news objectively, fairly, and faster-paced. And the result was the Fox News channel, today America’s number one cable news network.

“In this spirit, we’re now turning to the Internet. Today, the newspaper is just a paper. Tomorrow, it can be a destination. Today, to the extent anyone is a destination, it’s the Internet portals: the Yahoos, Googles, and MSNs.

“I just saw a report that showed Google News’s traffic increased 90 per cent over the past year while the New York Times excellent website traffic decreased 23 per cent. The challenge for us for each of us in this room is to create an Internet presence that is compelling enough for users to make us their home page.

“Just as people traditionally started their day with coffee and the newspaper, in the future, our hope should be that for those who start their day online, it will be with coffee and our website.”

Some newspapers will invest sufficient resources to continuously update the news, because digital natives don’t just check the news in the morning they check it throughout the day.

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News Broadcasting

Barc forensic audit in TRP row awaits as Twenty-Four probe gathers pace

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KERALA: A forensic audit commissioned by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has emerged as the centrepiece of the government’s response to fresh allegations of television rating point manipulation involving a regional news channel in Kerala, with both the audit findings and a parallel police investigation still awaited.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Barc had appointed an independent agency to conduct a forensic probe into the conduct of senior personnel allegedly linked to the case.

The move followed media reports claiming that a Barc employee had accepted bribes to manipulate viewership data in favour of a regional television news channel.

“The report from BARC is still awaited,” Murugan told Parliament, signalling that the forensic exercise remains ongoing.

Industry specialists say forensic audits are crucial in alleged TRP fraud cases, as they examine internal controls, data access trails, panel household integrity, staff communications and financial transactions. The outcome could determine whether the alleged manipulation was an isolated breach or a deeper systemic weakness in India’s television measurement framework.

Running alongside the audit, the Kerala Police has formed a special investigation team to probe the allegations. The ministry has sought a preliminary report from the state’s director general of police, including details of action taken on the first information report. That report, too, is yet to be submitted.

The episode has revived long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of India’s TRP system, particularly in regional news markets where competition for ratings is fierce and advertising revenues hinge on weekly viewership rankings.

India’s sole television audience measurement body Barc, has faced scrutiny before, most notably during the nationwide TRP controversy involving news channels in 2020. While tighter compliance norms were introduced in the aftermath, the latest allegations suggest enforcement challenges may persist.

On regulatory consequences, the government said any punitive action against television channels, including suspension or cancellation of uplinking and downlinking permissions, would be governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels issued in November 2022, and would depend on investigation outcomes and due process.

The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts to overhaul the ratings ecosystem. Television measurement continues to be regulated under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014. Draft amendments were released for public consultation in July 2025, followed by a revised version in November 2025, aimed at tightening audit mechanisms and improving transparency and representativeness.

In November 2025, Barc said it had taken note of allegations aired by Malayalam news channel Twenty-Four, which linked an internal employee to irregularities in audience measurement. The council said it had engaged a “reputed independent agency” to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.

The ratings system sits at the heart of India’s broadcast advertising economy, shaping billions of rupees in annual ad spends. With trust in audience data once again under strain, advertisers, broadcasters and regulators are closely watching the outcome of the investigations.

Barc has urged industry stakeholders and media organisations to exercise restraint while the probe is underway, calling for an end to “unverified or speculatory claims” and reiterating its commitment to integrity and accountability.

Until the forensic audit and police findings are submitted and reviewed, the government said it would refrain from drawing conclusions.

News Broadcasting

Rajat Sharma defamation row: Delhi court summons Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered the summoning of senior Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal case filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, sharpening a legal battle over alleged defamation and doctored digital content.

The order was passed on Monday by Devanshi Janmeja, judicial magistrate first class at Saket Courts, after the court found prima facie grounds to proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, creation of false electronic records and defamation.

Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, had approached the court over allegations made in June 2024 that he had used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. He denied the charge, claiming it was fuelled by a manipulated video circulated online.

According to the complaint, a clipped version of the broadcast carrying superimposed captions, which were not part of the original programme, was first shared on social media platform X by Nayak and later amplified through retweets and public statements by Khera and Ramesh. Sharma said the viral spread caused serious reputational harm and personal distress.

The court took note of forensic science laboratory findings that pointed to visible post-production alterations in the video, including added titles and captions. It also cited witness testimonies from those present during the live broadcast, who stated that no abusive or objectionable language had been used.

In a related civil matter, the Delhi High Court had earlier observed a prima facie absence of abusive remarks and directed the removal of the disputed social media posts.

With criminal proceedings now set in motion, the case adds to mounting scrutiny around political messaging, digital manipulation and accountability on social media platforms.

News Broadcasting

Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive

Reliance and BlackRock chiefs map the future of investing as global capital eyes India

Published

1 month ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s capital story takes centre stage today as Mukesh Ambani and Larry Fink sit down for a rare joint television conversation, bringing together two of the most powerful voices in global business at a moment of economic churn and opportunity.

The Reliance Industries chief and the BlackRock boss will speak with Shereen Bhan, managing editor of CNBC-TV18, in an exclusive interaction airing from 3:00 pm on February 4. The timing is deliberate. Geopolitics are tense, technology is disruptive and capital is choosier. India, meanwhile, is pitching itself as a long-term bet.

The pairing is symbolic. Reliance straddles energy transition, digital infrastructure and consumer growth in the world’s fastest-expanding major economy. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, oversees more than $14 tn in assets and sits at the nerve centre of global capital flows. When the two talk, markets tend to listen.

Fink’s appearance marks his third India visit, a signal of the country’s rising strategic weight for the Wall Street-listed firm, which carries a market value above $177 bn. His earlier 2023 trips included an October stop in New Delhi, where he met both Ambani and Narendra Modi.

India is now central to BlackRock’s expansion plans, notably through its joint venture with Jio Financial Services. Announced in July 2023, the 50:50 venture, JioBlackRock, commits up to $150 mn each from the partners to build a digital-first asset-management platform aimed at India’s swelling investor class.

The backdrop is robust. BlackRock ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 tn, helped by $698 bn in net inflows, including $342 bn in the fourth quarter alone. Scale gives Fink both heft and a long lens on where money is moving.

He has been openly bullish on India. At the Saudi-US Investment Summit in Riyadh last year, Fink argued that the “fog of global uncertainty is lifting”, with capital returning to dynamic markets such as India, drawn by reforms, demographics and durable return potential.

Expect the conversation to range beyond balance sheets, into technology’s role in finance, access to capital and the mechanics of sustainable growth in a fracturing world order. For investors and policymakers alike, it is a snapshot of how big money is thinking about India.

At a time when capital is cautious and growth is contested, India wants to be the exception. When Ambani and Fink share a stage, it is less a chat and more a signal. The world’s money is still looking for its next big story, and India intends to be it.