MAM
Rentrak inks deal with India’s Carnival Cinemas for box office measurement
MUMBAI: Box office measurement body Rentrak is slowly expanding its footprint in India, where until now box office numbers haven’t had a systematic tracking system. Rentrak, which recently inked a deal with India’s Cinepolis multiplex chain, has now joined hands with the Mumbai based Carnival Cinemas.
Rentrak will implement its box office reporting system across Carinval Cinemas properties.
Carnival Cinemas with 300 screens currently ranks as India’s third-largest exhibition chain after PVR and Inox. The company plans to increase its screen count to more than 1,000 screens across India by 2017, including theaters in small cities throughout South India.
It may be recalled that last year Carnival Cinemas acquired Big Cinemas, which was the multiplex business of Reliance Mediaworks.
“We are excited to expand our measurement in India and work with Carnival Cinemas as they continue to become one of the top players in the market. Rentrak is committed to expanding our box office measurement throughout India to help their film production be more transparent,” said Rentrak president of global movie services Ron Giambra.
“We are delighted to partner with Rentrak, the global leaders in box office measurement to herald an era of precise box office information in the Indian movie industry. Carnival, while striving to provide the best possible movie watching experience to its viewers, also strives to uphold the global best practices in all aspects of film exhibition. I am sure that our synergy will add value to the industry as a whole,” added Carnival CEO Group P.V Sunil.
Rentrak has been measuring box office receipts in India since October 2014. The first film it tracked was Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir Khan’s PK, which recently became the country’s highest-grossing film of all time.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: 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.
