iWorld
DoT in favour of 10 per cent custom duty on telecom gear
MUMBAI: Following the uproar after the union budget proposed imposing 10 per cent import duty on telecom products not covered under Information Technology Agreement (ITA) 1 of WTO to boost domestic production of telecom products, media reports suggest that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) wants the Finance Ministry to retain the 10 per cent customs duty on specified telecom products as proposed in the budget.
According to a report in Economic Times, a letter written by the DoT to the revenue secretary said, “Imposition of customs duty on specified telecom products will create a level playing field for domestic manufacturers who suffer severe disability due to poor infrastructure and inverted duty.”
India is a signatory of ITA 1 as a member of World Trade Organisation. Under the pact, member countries should allow duty free import of products falling under eight categories covering telecom, computers and semiconductors like mobile phones and electronic chips.
The telecom products mostly fall in the category of 2G, 3G as well as the 4G equipment, including switches and broadband equipment. These products are outside the list of about 220 electronic items on which India has a zero duty commitment under the World Trade Organisation’s Information Technology Agreement (ITA-1).
The Government, also, recently declared set top boxes as a part of telecom network. The move exempts STBs from various taxes and duties, bringing down prices, which the government hopes to pass on to consumers. In the first and second phase of cable digitisation, imported STBs accounted for about 95 per cent market share.
The letter also added that “India is under no obligation to allow duty free imports of items not covered in ITA-1.”
iWorld
Epic Company launches unified Epic Studio for films and OTT
Vivek Krishnani to head films business; Samar Khan leads OTT & Television.
MUMBAI: Epic just merged its creative superheroes under one cape because when films and OTT need to fight for attention together, you don’t keep them in separate universes. The Epic Company has launched Epic Studio, a next-generation creative and production powerhouse that unites Juggernaut Productions and Movieverse Studio under a single banner. The move creates a streamlined, scalable platform for premium storytelling across theatrical films, OTT originals, television, digital-first formats and branded content.
Vivek Krishnani has been appointed chief executive officer, Epic Studio (Films), overseeing the theatrical and film business with a focus on culturally resonant narratives across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati and Malayalam cinema. Samar Khan continues as chief executive officer, Epic Studio (OTT & Television) and retains his role as chief content officer for Docubay and Epic On.
The Epic Company managing director Aditya Pittie said, “Epic Studio brings together our entire creative ecosystem under one unified studio vision. This is not just an integration of verticals, but the creation of a collaborative environment where writers, filmmakers, creators, and brand partners can seamlessly develop and scale stories across formats and screens.”
Vivek Krishnani added, “We are building an audience-focused mainstream film studio committed to delivering fresh, engaging, and innovative stories for both theatrical and streaming platforms.”
Samar Khan commented, “This alignment allows us to approach storytelling with a unified studio mindset. We are building IP under one creative umbrella, with scale and longevity in mind from inception.”
The unified structure eliminates silos, enabling ideas to flow fluidly from concept to screen while adapting to evolving audience behaviour. Epic Studio positions itself as a creator-led ecosystem championing purposeful, resonant storytelling with commercial strength.
In an entertainment landscape where stories now leap between screens faster than plot twists, Epic isn’t just building a studio, it’s crafting a single launchpad where every tale gets the best shot at soaring across every platform.
