MAM
Kids’ WB!, Cartoon Network’s ad sales units to combine
NEW YORK: This is an alliance that AOL Time Warner is hoping will bring two of its leading assets even closer together for the US kids buying marketplace.
The US advertising sales efforts of AOL Time Warner’s Kids’ WB! which claims to be the number one kids’ broadcast network and the top-rated service in all television among boys, and Cartoon Network, the 24/7 animation network will be combined at the end of the broadcast season in September.
The unified Kids’ WB! and Cartoon Network advertising sales group will report to executive VP ad sales and marketing Cartoon Network Kim McQuilken. McQuilken reports to president group sales and marketing Turner Entertainment Mark Lazarus.
While the sales units will be combined, programming and marketing for each network will remain independent, yet collaborative. Lazarus said, “There’s no stronger combination in kids television than Kids’ WB! and Cartoon Network. Combining the sales efforts of these two powerhouses will result in new growth opportunities for our marketing partners. Our customer-focussed approach will create unprecedented options for the kids television marketplace.”
An official release informs that the combined strength of Kids’ WB! and Cartoon Network is evident. In January 2003, the four-week combined reach of Kids’ WB! and Cartoon Network in the key demographics of Kids 2-11 (72.5 per cent) and Kids 6-11 (72.2 per cent) puts the partnership head-to-head with the Nickelodeon and CBS combo.
President and COO The WB Jed Petrick said, “The sharing of programmes such as Pokémon, The Powerpuff Girls, Scooby-Doo between Kids’ WB! and Cartoon Network began when Jamie Kellner moved to Atlanta, and since then we have greatly increased our collaboration. Combining the AOL Time Warner kids television sales efforts into one specialised unit was a natural progression. I would be surprised if the company’s joint kids efforts end here, and I believe that the combined AOLTW kids properties are on the verge of leading this space. The WB sales head Bill Morningstar and his staff have done a terrific job growing our Kids’ WB! revenue these past years.”
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
