MAM
PM hails Sharma’s re-election as NBDA chief with newsworthy praise
MUMBAI: The news just broke and fittingly, it’s about the man who’s been breaking news for decades. Prime minister Narendra Modi has congratulated India TV chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma on being re-elected as president of the News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA), calling his leadership “newsworthy” at a time when the media and digital landscape is undergoing seismic shifts.
In a personal letter, the prime minister lauded Sharma’s decades-long contribution to journalism, describing his credibility and deep subject knowledge as invaluable to the industry. “The Association will benefit from your decades-long experience in journalism, your deep understanding of various subjects, and your credibility. Your guidance will be particularly effective in the media and digital world, undergoing modern transformation,” Modi wrote.
The prime minister further expressed confidence that under Sharma’s stewardship, the NBDA would raise the standards of journalism to “new heights” while continuing to play a meaningful role in the interests of society and the nation. “Once again, I wish you all the best for this new term and your future endeavours,” he added.
Sharma’s re-election as president for the 2025–26 term was confirmed at the NBDA’s Board meeting on September 19, 2025. He continues to head India’s largest body of private news broadcasters and digital media players at a time when the lines between legacy and digital journalism are blurring more rapidly than ever.
Alongside Sharma’s re-election, the new NBDA leadership team was also announced. MV Shreyams Kumar, managing director of Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing, has been appointed vice-president, while Anuradha Prasad Shukla, chairperson & managing director of News24 Broadcast India, has been named Honorary Treasurer.
The reappointment cements Sharma’s place as one of the most influential figures in Indian news media. Having steered India TV to become one of the country’s most-watched news channels and leading NBDA through earlier terms, Sharma’s presidency comes at a crucial moment as the sector grapples with challenges of regulation, digital disruption, and audience trust.
For Sharma, who has spent decades building his reputation as one of India’s most recognisable news anchors and media leaders, the latest endorsement from both peers and the Prime Minister underscores not just his personal clout but also the pivotal role NBDA plays in shaping the future of journalism in India.
And as Modi’s words suggest, the coming year may see Sharma not just reporting the news, but redefining how India consumes it.
Brands
Jubilant Foodworks to end Dunkin’ franchise in India
Pizza chain operator will not renew agreement when it expires at end of 2026.
MUMBAI: When the doughnuts stop turning and the coffee goes cold, even a global giant like Dunkin’ can find the Indian market a tough brew to crack. Jubilant Foodworks has decided not to renew its franchise agreement with Dunkin’ when the pact expires on 31 December 2026, according to a Reuters report. The operator, best known for running Domino’s outlets in India, said it would evaluate options for its existing Dunkin’ stores, including a potential sale or transfer of franchise rights, in consultation with the US-based brand.
The decision follows years of underperformance in a market where local tastes and intense competition have made it difficult for international coffee-and-doughnut formats to gain traction. Jubilant, which has increasingly focused on its core pizza business and newer bets like Popeyes, indicated that the exit would not materially affect its financial or operational position.
Dunkin’ accounted for just 0.61 per cent of Jubilant’s revenue in the fiscal year ending 2025 and recorded a loss of approximately Rs 191 million, according to a regulatory filing. The company operated 27 outlets as of December 2025, having shuttered seven stores over the preceding year.
The retreat comes even as Jubilant’s broader business shows signs of momentum. The company reported a 65 per cent rise in quarterly profit for the October to December period, reaching Rs 70.9 crore, up from Rs 42.91 crore a year earlier.
For Jubilant, the exit reflects a sharpening strategic focus. For Dunkin’, it marks another setback in a market that has proven resistant to imported café concepts without significant localisation.
In the cut-throat world of Indian quick-service restaurants, sometimes the sweetest deals are the ones you quietly walk away from leaving more room for the brands that truly rise to the occasion.
