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Big broadcasters united on 5% service tax for all ROs
MUMBAI: What exactly is the situation as far as the contentious 5 per cent service tax on ad billings go?
The general assumption going round appears to be that the broadcasters have had to give way in the face of strong resistance from FMCG behemoth Hindustan Lever (HLL) on the issue. However, all the three big broadcasters Star, Sony Entertainment and Zee TV have been quite clear that this surcharge must be factored into the final tally and billed separately, the details as to how it is to be done being left to negotiation. A lot of confusion has been raised around this due to a report which first appeared on a media website and Sony has “very categorically clarified that from 1 September, every advertiser on its network has been showing the 5 per cent service tax component separately in the release order (RO).”
Currently, the big FMCG companies advertising on the Sony network like HLL, Procter & Gamble and Nestle are all showing the 5 per cent separately in their billing instructions on the ROs, sources say.
And still off air on Sony because they are yet to accede to the demand on separate billing for service tax and led by Colgate are Coke, Pepsi, Marico and Johnson & Johnson.
Star India ad sales head Raj Nayak said as much when he spoke to indiantelevision.com yesterday: “All clients have agreed to pay (the service tax) and will be on air as soon as we can put them on.” Referring to HLL, Nayak said: “Star does not have a signed deal with HLL and will negotiate with them to pay service tax when a new deal is done. We stand firm that we will follow the IBF-ISA-3AAAs-of-I agreement to air only spots of clients who pay service tax.”
Star’s old agreement with HLL has expired and negotiations are currently on with it for a new deal.
HLL’s annual TV ad spend is streets ahead of any other advertiser at Rs 1.5 billion. On Star TV alone that works out to Rs 2 million every day, reports have said.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
