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Tag: News Broadcasters & Digital Association

  • Rajat Sharma takes helm of India’s top news broadcasters’ body

    Rajat Sharma takes helm of India’s top news broadcasters’ body

    NEW DELHI: Rajat Sharma, the seasoned television news anchor and promoter of India TV, has been unanimously elected president of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) for 2025-26. The appointment, announced at the organisation’s board meeting on 19 September positions him at the head of India’s most influential media news lobbying group as the industry navigates mounting regulatory pressures and fierce competition from digital platforms.

    Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing , managing director M.V. Shreyams Kumar will serve as vice-president, whilst News24 Broadcast India chairperson and managing director Anuradha Prasad Shukla takes the honorary treasurer role. Both appointments were unanimous.

    The NBDA board includes heavyweights from India’s media landscape: Rahul Joshi of Network18 Media & Investments, Kalli Purie Bhandal from TV Today Network, and Anil Kumar Malhotra of Zee Media. Other members are Dhruba Mukherjee (ABP Network), I. Venkat (Eenadu Television), Rahul Kanwal (New Delhi Television), Mahesh Kumar Rajaraman (Sun TV Network), and Rohit Gopakumar Velloli from Bennett Coleman & Co.

    Annie Joseph remains secretary general, providing continuity as the association faces an increasingly complex media environment marked by regulatory scrutiny and the relentless rise of streaming platforms and independent news influencers.

  • News broadcasters press Sitharaman for GST relief on ads and credits

    News broadcasters press Sitharaman for GST relief on ads and credits

    NEW DELHI: India’s news broadcasters have taken their tax fight to the top. The News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), led by president Rajat Sharma, has written to finance minister and GST Council chair Nirmala Sitharaman, warning that the current goods and services tax regime is throttling the financial health of television and digital news outlets.

    In its 28 August representation, NBDA said the system of taxing advertising sales at the point of invoicing, rather than when payments are actually received, is crippling cash flow. Broadcasters, it noted, are often left waiting months for money from government departments, state agencies, PSUs and even the government’s own ad-buying arm DAVP. Yet GST has to be coughed up immediately, leaving newsrooms to carry the burden of taxes on income not yet in hand.

    The association also demanded a rethink of Section 17(5) of the GST Act, which denies input tax credit on everyday operational spends such as vehicle hire, catering, employee insurance and even routine services like beauty treatments required for on-air talent. NBDA argues these restrictions make little sense for an industry that runs on people, mobility and presentation.

    Sharma said the relief sought is not a handout but a rational correction. “The changes will align taxation with actual revenue flow and remove arbitrary blocks on legitimate business costs,” the letter states.

    The news business, already squeezed by weak advertising growth, digital disruption and rising costs, says it can ill afford such tax distortions. NBDA’s blunt message to North Block: fix the GST rules, or risk further erosion of an industry vital to India’s democracy.

  • India TV chairman Rajat Sharma elected as president of NBDA

    India TV chairman Rajat Sharma elected as president of NBDA

    Mumbai: India TV chairman Rajat Sharma has been elected as the President of the news broadcasters & digital association (NBDA),for another term in 2024-25. the largest organization of news broadcasters in India, consisting of almost all major news networks in the country. The appointments took place during NBDA’s board meeting held at 9 July 2024

    Addressing the NBDA, Rajat Sharma remarked on the significant challenges facing news broadcasters today. “There is a concentrated effort to discredit the news broadcast industry,” he said. “A section of the digital media is being misused to constantly attack news broadcasters. We have to work together to fight this menace.”

    Sharma further emphasised the pressures faced by those in the news industry, stating, “Our editors, anchors, and reporters are being targeted. They are working under tremendous pressure as an ecosystem has been created to consistently threaten their credibility. It is our responsibility to ensure that they get a fearless atmosphere to deliver fair news.”

     

  • NBDA strengthens regulations with graded penalties for broadcasters and digital publishers

    NBDA strengthens regulations with graded penalties for broadcasters and digital publishers

    Mumbai: The News Broadcasters & Digital Association (“NBDA”) is the collective voice of the news, current affairs and digital broadcasters in India, whose membership includes leading news and current affairs broadcasters and digital news publishers, who run news and current affairs channels and digital news platforms. Members of NBDA are some of the nation’s top-rated news channels and they command more than 80 per cent of news television viewership in India.

    One of the significant achievements of NBDA is its independent self-regulatory body “News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority” (NBDSA), which was established nearly 15 years ago. NBDSA has emerged as a time-tested complaint redressal system and process for the viewers.  Since its inception, NBDSA has been headed by eminent former judges of the Supreme Court of India, and by other renowned Independent Members, who have striven to improve broadcasting standards.

    The NBDA Board felt that it had become necessary to review and amend the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Regulations (regulations) to bring it in sync with the evolving media landscape.

    The NBDA Board is grateful to Justice (Retd) A. K. Sikri, chairperson, NBDSA, Justice (Retd) R. V Raveendran, former chairperson, NBDSA and  Senior Advocate Arvind P. Datar, for their invaluable guidance and inputs in facilitating the process.  

    The salient features of the regulations are:

    With the inclusion of digital news media in its membership, the regulations have been amended to bring digital publishers under the purview of NBDSA. Further, several new definitions have been added in the Regulations, which include:

    “Digital News Media” means digitized news content that can be transmitted over the internet or computer networks and includes content received, stored, transmitted, edited or processed by a digital publisher;

    “Digital News Platforms” refers to platforms which facilitate transmission of digitized news content over the internet or computer networks including social networking sites or social media;

    “OTT Platforms” refers to platforms which facilitate transmission of any program, feature, news-item, news-report or any other matter over the internet or computer networks on demand;

    “Digital Publisher” includes a news portal, news aggregator, news agency and any other entity which is engaged in publishing of news and current affairs content on digital news platforms, OTT platforms, social networking sites and social media.

    Penalties to be imposed for violation of the Code of Conduct have been broadened to include graded penalties, which are as follows:

    7.       Powers of Authority

    “Where, on receipt of a complaint made to it or otherwise, the Authority has reason to believe that a Broadcaster or Digital Publisher has violated the Code of Conduct, the Authority may, after giving the Broadcaster or Digital Publisher concerned, an opportunity of being heard, hold an inquiry in such manner as is provided by these Regulations and, if it is satisfied that it is necessary so to do, it may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, direct the following penalties to be imposed upon the broadcaster or digital publisher:-

    For the first violation issue/express:

    a. warning, admonish, censure, disapproval, regret, apology and/or

    b. impose a fine of upto Rs. 2 lacs

    For the second violation issue/express:

    a. warning, admonish, censure, disapproval, regret, apology and/or

    b. impose a fine of upto Rs. 5 lacs

    For the third violation issue/express:

    a. warning, admonish, censure, disapproval, regret, apology and/or

    b.  impose a fine upto one per cent of the total annual turnover of the channel.

    Provided such fine shall not exceed Rs.25 lakhs, in any given matter.

    In addition to the above, on the third violation of the code of conduct, the authority may direct a particular programme to be suspended for up to one week and/or direct the broadcaster to suspend the anchor for upto one month and/or issue any other direction as the authority deems appropriate to the broadcaster or digital publisher and/or recommend to the concerned authority for suspension/revocation of license of such broadcaster;

    Provided that the fine imposed by the authority shall be recovered from the concerned broadcaster or digital publisher.

    Provided that if the authority holds that the Broadcaster or digital publisher has violated the code of conduct, it will direct the broadcaster/digital publisher to immediately remove or suitably edit the broadcast/publication from all digital news platforms, social media and social networking sites;”

    Suo-Motu proceedings

    “The Authority has the power to initiate suo motu proceedings and issue notice or, as the case may be, take action in respect of any matter which falls within the mischief contemplated in these regulations or relating to any matter falling within or arising from the Code of Conduct, and in such cases the Authority would be free to adopt its own procedure and such procedure need not be the same procedure as when the complaint is filed.

    The authority may exercise suo motu power in cases where public interest requires immediate remedial action to be taken, or in other cases where the Authority deems it fit to do so.

    Where suo motu proceedings have been taken ex-parte, the authority will issue notice to the concerned broadcasters/digital publishers within three days giving an opportunity to explain why further action under the regulations should not be taken.

    The Authority may exercise its powers suo motu even on a subject matter brought to its attention by a Complainant whose complaint has been dismissed due to delay in filing the Complaint.”

    New provision added in the regulations

    Emergency powers

    “In the event there is an emergency situation involving egregious and/or continuous and/or repetitive violation(s) of the code of conduct in the telecast/publication by the member broadcasters/digital publishers on a particular subject, the authority shall also have suo motu emergency powers to issue interim directions to broadcasters/digital publishers without following the procedures as mentioned in the regulations.

    In such emergency situations, an urgent meeting of the Authority will be convened within 24 (twenty-four) hours of such violation of code of conduct being brought to the notice of the Authority.

    After the urgent meeting, the Authority can take action against any broadcasters/digital publishers including a particular channel/digital platform/OTT platform which would include a direction to remove the content immediately.

    After the passing of any such interim directions, the aggrieved broadcaster/digital publisher may approach the authority for redressal of its grievance immediately. If a suitable explanation is given by the broadcasters/digital publishers, the authority can set aside the Interim Directions and direct the programme/content to be restored.”

    The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Regulations dated 20.6.2024 is attached.

  • Avinash Pandey re-elected NBDA president for the year 2023-24

    Avinash Pandey re-elected NBDA president for the year 2023-24

    Mumbai: Avinash Pandey has been re-elected the president of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA). Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd., managing director M.V. Shreyams Kumar has been re-elected as vice president. News24 Broadcast India Ltd. chairperson-cum-managing director Anuradha Prasad Shukla will continue to be the honorary treasurer of the NBDA for the year 2023-2024.

    The other members on the NBDA Board are : –

    Rajat Sharma, Chairman – Independent News Services Pvt. Ltd.

    M.K. Anand, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer – Times Network – Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd

    Rahul Joshi, Managing Director – TV18 Broadcast Ltd.

    I. Venkat, Director – Eenadu Television Pvt. Ltd.

    Kalli Purie Bhandal, Vice-Chairperson & Managing Director – TV Today Network Ltd.

    Sonia Singh, Editorial Director, NDTV – New Delhi Television Ltd.

    Anil Kumar Malhotra, Advisor, Zee Media Corporation Ltd.

  • I.N.D.I.A. Media Committee boycotts selected journalists/anchors; NBDA concerned

    I.N.D.I.A. Media Committee boycotts selected journalists/anchors; NBDA concerned

    Mumbai: News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) is deeply anguished and concerned by the decision taken by the I.N.D.I.A. Media Committee not to send their representatives on the shows and events hosted by certain journalists/anchors. The decision taken by the I.N.D.I.A. Media Committee sets a dangerous precedent.

    The ban on representatives of the opposition alliance from participating in TV news shows anchored by some of India’s top TV news personalities goes against the ethos of democracy. It betokens intolerance and imperils press freedom.

    The opposition alliance claims to be the champion of pluralism and a free press, but its decision betrays callous disregard for democracy’s most fundamental tenet – the inalienable right to openly express ideas and opinions.

    The boycott of certain journalists/anchors takes the nation back to the Emergency era, when the press was gagged, and independent opinions and voices were crushed.

    NBDA urges the opposition alliance to withdraw its decision of boycotting certain journalists and anchors as such a decision would amount to browbeating journalists and stifling freedom of speech and expression of the media.

  • News Broadcasters Association rechristens as News Broadcasters & Digital Association

    News Broadcasters Association rechristens as News Broadcasters & Digital Association

    Mumbai: News Broadcasters Association (NBA), the largest body of news broadcasters in the country, has decided to change its present name to ‘News Broadcasters & Digital Association’ (NBDA).

    NBA consists of the nation’s top-rated news channels and commands more than 80 per cent of news television viewership in India. With the media landscape has changed drastically due to technology, enormous choices have now become available to viewers to access content on various mediums and digital seems to be the future. NBA Board has decided to change the name of NBA to NBDA in order to reflect the addition of digital media news broadcasters as its members.

    “NBA has decided to bring within its purview digital media news broadcasters. In its new phase, with the inclusion of digital media news broadcasters, the NBA board has decided to change the name of the body from NBA to NBDA,” said NBA president Rajat Sharma announcing the decision.

    “I firmly believe that the NBDA will become a strong collective voice for both the broadcast and digital media. Along with commercial and regulatory issues, it will also enable the Association to defend the fundamental right of free speech and expression guaranteed to the media in the Constitution of India in a better manner,” Sharma added.

    The pride of the NBA has been the setting up of an independent self-regulatory body News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) 14 years ago. The NBSA has put in place a time-tested complaint redressal system and process, headed by eminent judges of the Supreme Court of India and eminent persons who have striven to improve broadcasting standards.

    NBDA board has decided that with the inclusion of digital media news broadcasters, the name of the self-regulatory body, NBSA be rechristened as ‘News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority’ (NBDSA).