News Broadcasting
Industry sees some positives in budget
NEW DELHI / MUMBAI: Presented below are reactions from a cross-section of the industry to Budget 2004.
Zee Telefilms CMD Subhash Chandra:
“The 2004 budget is aimed towards fiscal consolidation with focus on growth and equitable development. I am very happy to see that there is adequate emphasis on rural development as well as on infrastructure development.”
“Rural incomes are a powerful driver of demand and should benefit all sectors of the economy including broadcasting and media. It also creates an attractive environment for FDI and FII investments into India.
“Increased support to basic education, public healthcare schemes, strengthening of PDS, improvement of basic facilities for the poor sections of the society like electricity, housing for poor will bring about widespread social development, if implemented well.
“Though I am of the view that instead of levying 2 per cent cess, if the Finance Minister gives 100 per cent income tax exemption to businesses that provide Primary education in rural India, it would have achieved the desired result.
“Increase in FDI limit in the aviation, insurance and telecom sector is a very encouraging move and signals the seriousness on infrastructure development. It also signals continuation of the reform process, which is welcome.
“As far as the television and media sector is concerned, this budget does seem to have some positive impact due to the offset available in service tax against the tax chargeable on services provided by broadcasters.
“Overall the budget is a balanced one without much inflationary outcome.”
Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea
“The overall budget is good, in that if the rural sector is able to flourish then its impact on the economy will benefit the country as a whole. As a company that has invested very substantially in India and has plans to invest more, we welcome the setting up of an Investment Commission. However, we have certain concerns. The hike in service tax to 10 per cent and the widening of the service tax net to include independent TV and radio programme producers will have a negative impact on our input costs.”
BAG Films MD Anurradha Prasad:
“The government has brought TV and radio production houses under the service tax net, but has not given any incentives for long haul projects like setting up world class post-pproduction facilities. It’s the royal ignore,” she added.
Balaji Telefilms CFO Devrajan
“The sponsored category of our revenue model will not attract service tax, although from now on the commisioned model will come under the purview of service tax. Having said that, this is still revenue neutral, in the sense neither the production house nor the channel will be impacted by the service tax all thanks to the facility of input credit.”
UTV director operations & finance Ronald D’Mello
“The content and production industry on the whole needs a little pampering and incentivisation in terms of import of equipment among others as has been requested to the Goverment at many occasions. Imposition of service tax will defintely increase the cost of procurement of content by the channel inspite of the input credit facitlity and this was quite unexpected.”
News Broadcasting
DNPA names Puneet Gupt chairperson; Anant Goenka steps in as vice chairperson
Leadership reset comes as digital news grapples with AI-led disruption and policy battles
NEW DELHI: India’s digital news lobby has a new pilot at the helm just as the industry stares down its next big disruption. The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has named Puneet Gupt, chief operating officer at Times Internet, as chairperson, succeeding Mariam Mammen Mathew at the end of her two-year term.
Gupt, who previously served as vice chairperson, steps into the top role with deep familiarity of the body’s agenda, ensuring a smooth transition at a time when publishers are recalibrating for an AI-shaped future. Anant Goenka, executive director at The Indian Express Group, has been appointed vice chairperson, while Dhruba Mukherjee continues as treasurer.
“Digital news publishers are navigating one of the most consequential shifts the industry has ever seen, from how content is discovered to how it is valued in an AI-driven world. DNPA’s role as a unified industry voice has never mattered more. My focus will be on ensuring that our members are not just responding to these changes, but actively contributing to the policy and industry frameworks around them,” said Puneet Gupt.
Goenka underscored the need for collective action as the sector evolves. “This is an important moment for DNPA and for the digital news publishing industry in India. There is real value in publishers coming together, sharing perspectives, and building a common understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead. I look forward to contributing to that effort with DNPA members,” he said.
Outgoing chairperson Mariam Mammen Mathew called it a timely transition. “It has been a privilege to lead DNPA at such a pivotal time for the industry. I am confident that under Puneet’s leadership, DNPA will continue to grow in influence and impact. I wish the new team every success,” she said.
Sujata Gupta, secretary general and chief executive officer at DNPA, framed the shift as a springboard for the next phase. “This transition marks an exciting new chapter for DNPA. We have spent the last few years building the credibility, relationships, and frameworks that allow us to engage meaningfully on the issues that matter most to our members. With Puneet and Anant at the helm, we are well-positioned to translate that foundation into tangible outcomes, on policy, on fair commercial frameworks, and on ensuring that digital news publishing remains a sustainable and vital part of India’s information ecosystem,” she said.
The leadership rejig lands at a moment when digital publishers are battling shifting discovery patterns, platform power and the economics of AI. For DNPA, the message is clear: the next phase will be less about reacting and more about shaping the rules of the game.
