News Broadcasting
Disappointing for broadcasters, cable ops: Radhakrishnan
MUMBAI: The main worrisome aspect of this Budget is the service tax that has shot up, affecting both the broadcasters and the cable operator community, says ETC Networks promoter and Zee Cinema and Zee Music business head Yogesh Radhakrishnan.
Coming particularly at a time when the subscriber is not willing to shell out the extra rupee, this move can only be a setback to the entertainment industry, says Radhakrishnan.
Of course, aspects like the five per cent surcharge on corporate tax are heartening, but then they have been announced for industry in general and are not specific to the broadcast industry.
The set top box duty is another disappointment. After the former I&B minister Sushma Swaraj had assured us that duties on STBs would be reduced, we had hoped for great things, but the FM has disappointed us in this regard, he says.
News Broadcasting
India Today Group debuts AI anchor ‘Sutra’ at AI Impact Summit 2026
Sutra aims to simplify live policy debates using sovereign AI models
NEW DELHI: India Today Group has unveiled Sutra, an AI-driven news anchor designed to deliver real-time, contextual reporting, marking the group’s latest push to integrate artificial intelligence into mainstream journalism.
The AI anchor was introduced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi and developed in collaboration with BharatGen, with the initiative showcased by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
India Today Group said Sutra is built to navigate complex policy discussions and fast-moving developments by synthesising information into concise, accessible insights, aimed at narrowing the gap between high-level debates and public understanding. The AI anchor was used to surface live takeaways from key sessions at the summit.
India Today Group chief AI officer Nilanjan Das, said the project was focused on clarity and accessibility without diluting editorial rigour. He added that working with BharatGen aligned the group’s AI ambitions with India’s broader push towards sovereign technology capabilities.
BharatGen CEO Rishi Bal, said the partnership reflected a shift from basic automation towards deeper contextual intelligence in media. He emphasised the importance of indigenous, multimodal AI models capable of understanding Indian languages, regional dialects and cultural nuance, particularly as AI-driven news formats gain traction.
The launch positions India Today Group among the first major Indian media houses to deploy an AI anchor backed by home-grown technology, underscoring a growing convergence between journalism, public policy and sovereign AI infrastructure.
