MAM
Government hikes print ad rates by 26 per cent
MUMBAI: The government has fired up the print market with a sharp 26 per cent hike in advertisement rates, giving newspapers a long-awaited financial shot in the arm as they battle spiralling costs and fierce competition from digital rivals.
Media rates for black and white ads in dailies, calculated per sq cm for one lakh copies, have been raised from Rs 47.40 to Rs 59.68. The government has also cleared the committee’s call for premium pricing on colour ads and preferential placements, in a bid to align state communication with the real economics of print.
The last revision dates back to 2019, when the 8th Rate Structure Committee set prices for a three-year cycle. Since then, inflation has bitten hard, newsrooms have thinned, and print houses have struggled to keep operations viable.
Officials say the bump will help steady the sector. Higher state-ad rates will give publishers critical revenue support, protect local newsrooms and enable investments in quality content, especially at a time when digital platforms divert attention and advertisers.
For the government, the revision sharpens communication effectiveness across a diverse media landscape, ensuring campaigns reach citizens through trusted and established channels.
With the new rates locked in, the print industry finally has wind in its sails and it is gearing up to turn that tailwind into fresh momentum.
MAM
JioStar cracks IPTV piracy network as TATA IPL 2026 gets underway
Broadcaster moves swiftly on match day to shut illegal BOS IPTV service
MUMBAI: JioStar has dismantled a major digital piracy syndicate on the opening day of the TATA IPL 2026, targeting an unauthorised IPTV service operating under the name BOS IPTV.
The crackdown followed an internal investigation that flagged the rogue platform, hosted on bostv.org, for illegally streaming premium television content. Acting on its findings, JioStar filed a criminal complaint with the Cyber Police Station Firozabad, triggering a formal police probe.
An FIR registered on 26 March 2026 cites multiple offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, the Information Technology Act 2008, and the Copyright Act 1957, underscoring the seriousness of the alleged violations.
Investigators found that BOS IPTV was offering access to more than 10,000 live television channels along with a library of over 25,000 video-on-demand titles through its proprietary streaming player. The platform reportedly had around 64,000 active users and was run by a team of roughly 20 individuals, pointing to a well-organised operation.
Law enforcement authorities have arrested the primary accused, with further detentions expected as the investigation expands across multiple states. Officials believe the network may be part of a broader, coordinated piracy ecosystem operating in India.
The website has since been taken offline by its operators, marking a timely intervention just as the IPL season begins and viewership peaks. For broadcasters, the opening weeks of the tournament are particularly vulnerable to illegal streaming, making swift enforcement crucial.
JioStar’s latest action signals a sharper, more proactive stance against digital piracy, especially around marquee sporting events. As the IPL gathers pace, the broadcaster is expected to maintain close coordination with authorities to protect its content and ensure viewers stay on the right side of the stream.
