News Broadcasting
MSOs brought under service tax net
NEW DELHI: Multi System Operators have one more issue to add to their “litany of woes”. The government has brought under the expanded tax ambit, MSOs as well.
In the budgetary proposals of finance minister P Chidambaram, which increased service tax from 8 per cent to 10 per cent, it has been specifically explained that cable operator service will include MSOs.
A Delhi-based representative of a MSO said, “We are already under so much financial pressure and now this added taxation, if true, would only add to our burden.”
CONFUSION OVER CABLE OPERATORS : The Budget papers add — in a confusing way, though — that service tax exemption that had been granted earlier has been withdrawn on “broadcasting service provided by cable operators.”
What adds to the whole confusion is the fact that cable operators say they have been paying service tax of eight per cent for the last two years and that the finance ministry has goofed up by mentioning them.
According to Vikky Chowdhry, president of National Cable & Telecom Association and an independent cable operator in Delhi, “The cable ops have been paying service tax since August 2001 and so withdrawing of the exemption does not make any sense.”
More importantly, Chowdhry pointed out, that with the sector regulator-mandated freeze on cable service prices still continuing, it would be very difficult for cable ops to absorb the increased percentage of service tax.
“The consumer would yell if we try to pass on the increase to him, which would be difficult in the first place, and it would be hard for us to absorb the cost. We have been caught between the deep sea and the devil.”
The confusion has arisen as the then FM had put in abeyance inclusion of cable ops in the service tax net in 2001. Subsequently another notification had been issued in this regard to incorporate the cable ops, according to Chowdhry, and the presdent mandarins in the finance ministry goofed after, may be, reading some old government note.
Even if cable operators’ side of the story is taken with a pinch of salt, the government has not made it clear whether the `broadcasting service by cable ops’ means re-transmission of TV channels or the video channels that cable operators show to air movies, news-based programming and, sometimes, even live local events like Ramleelas.
Attempts made by indiantelevision.com to get a clarification on this from finance ministry officials drew a blank.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
