News Broadcasting

India can be entertainment-outsourcing hub

Published

22 years ago

November 24, 2003

NEW DELHI: The market for entertainment products, including television, films, video games and music, is huge in India and Asia, in general. But for that a concerted effort needs to be made by the industry that needs to do some work in human resource development and the government, which needs to

come up with some more tax sops, experts felt here.

Pointing out that the buzz should be about Asian business and not just Indian alone, celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur said, “The market for entertainment products is about $350 billion (globally) and even if India is able to capture at least 50 per cent of the same, it’d be a huge amount.”

Kapur, along with Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea and young filmmaker Manu Reval were addressing a session on “The Indian Entertainment Industry” at the India Economic Summit, jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), here today.

Zee TV president Apurva Purohit, slated to participate in this session, failed to turn up, depriving the audience of the experience of India’s largest vertically integrated media company, Zee Telefilms Ltd. The company operates in various segments of the entertainment industry, including theme parks, film production and, of course, cable and satellite TV.

Making a strong case for the Asia, Kapur felt that in about 10 years time in a “reverse cultural colonisation”, 70 per cent of the global revenue would come from the Asian entertainment industry. “Even in India, where the entertainment industry holds great potential and is beginning to open up, it’s just the tip of the iceberg,” he added.

And, why the domestic entertainment industry should be strengthened? According to Kapur, the globe cannot be conquered, unless the domestic market is optimally tapped.

“McDonalds did not become the biggest food franchisee in the world without becoming one at home (in the US),” Kapur contended.

Kapur also felt that new technologies like mobile technology, music and online ventures would fuel the growth as a time would come when there would be “some sort of convergence.” Development of delivery formats, including mobile entertainment, and consequent development of content conducive to these platforms, has to be encouraged to develop new revenue streams, he explained.

Pointing out that India is beautifully positioned to benefit from this trend, Kapur said that the Indian market could capture this opportunity by utilising two main tools: new technology and nurturing new talent.

He said that creation of digital theatres is a cost-effective option as it helps cut down the cost of distributing (film) prints, while combating piracy. “This would be especially beneficial in the Indian scenario and generate economic gains. Currently, the growth of infrastructure is happening only for the ‘A’ category cities and the same has to spread to ‘B and C’ category towns also as real growth would come from there,” Kapur held forth on what is his favourite topic these days, apart from film making.

Quick to elaborate after Kapur had set the tone, Star India’s Mukherjea pointed out the huge “opportunity gaps” that exist in the Indian television market.

Of the 150 million Indian households capable of owning a TV set, only 75 million do so, he said, adding and of this, around 60 per cent are black and white TV sets, while households accessing cable & satellite channels are 42 million.

Correlating this number to the 65 per cent Indians below the age of 30 years that devote only about two hours a day to television, as opposed to around six hours a day in the US, Mukerjea said, “There is a huge opportunity waiting in India in the form of this segment of population that spends more than other age brackets, and can devote time to entertainment through television.”

The other important issue that needs introspection, according to Mukerjea, is development of India as an outsourcing hub for television software.
India offers huge cost advantages for development of television content, he said citing the cost of productions in the US and India.

The average cost of producing an episode of X Files, at present aired on Star Plus, is approximately one million dollars in the US, whereas a decent production can be done in India at three per cent of this cost, or less, Mukerjea said.

Pointing out that efforts should be made towards development of India as South Asia hub for television content and also entertainment-related products, Star India CEO said, “The thrusts have to come both from the government and the industry. The television industry should position itself as the preferred career choice for young talent. The government, on the other hand, should give tax breaks and other incentives to promote infrastructure for the same.”

According to Mukerjea, increasingly young people are opting for careers in media and communications and entertainment is not much different.

Responding to a query from indiantelevision.com, Mukerjea, however, clarified that Star would not like to get tied down to training people for the entertainment industry in a formal way like opening up a training school. “But if an organisation like NIIT can devote one of its training centres for entertainment industry, it’d be worthwhile,” he said.

Reval, the young film director, reiterated the importance of development of new talent in India.

He said that corporates should pool their resources and create a corpus that would help train newcomers in the industry on issues like access to finance and other professional practices particular to the film industry.

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News Broadcasting

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

Published

4 weeks 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

4 weeks 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

4 weeks 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.