News Broadcasting
WBU-TC demands rethinking on MPEG-4 AVC licensing
MUMBAI: World Broadcasting Unions Technical Committee (WBU-TC), the technical arm of the Canada based World Broadcasting Union, has expressed extreme concern about the licensing of MPEG-4 AVC, says an official press release.
MPEG-4 AVC is the latest version of video-compression standard which will replace the earlier version called MPEG-2 introduced in 1990.
The MPEG-2 video-compression standard has enjoyed exclusive dominance in the broadcasting world since its launch. But the system now reaching its practical limits and the demand for compression still growing high, the new version of compression standard is introduced to pick up where MPEG-2 leaves off.
The World Broadcasting Unions Technical Committee (WBU-TC) is the collective technical body for the world’s eight broadcasting unions and is responsible for technical broadcasting issues of importance to the members of the Unions. It reflects the opinions of the world’s national broadcasters.
The committee expressed its concern in a press release dated 21 May 2003. The release says that the WBU- TC has commented on the licensing arrangements for MPEG-4 Visual and strongly objected to the concept of fees based on usage. The committee also expressed the hope that the licensing structure for MPEG-4 AVC would not be a barrier to massive global adoption.
Again on 17 November 2003, MPEG LA issued a news release entitled “MPEG LA Announces Terms of Joint H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Patent License” (http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_03-11-17_avc.html) which indicated that free-to-air broadcasters would be required to pay “Participation Fees” amounting to US $10,000 per year for markets of greater than 100,000 households.
Of late, on 18 May 2004, MPEG LA has announced (http://www.mpegla.com/news/n_04-05-18_avc.pdf)) that the terms of this license will be modified to include the option of paying a one-time fee of US $2,500 for each encoder used in transmitting MPEG-4 AVC video for free broadcast television.
Despite this concession, the WBU-TC has unanimously concluded that the MPEG-4 AVC licensing terms remain extremely onerous for free-to-air broadcasters. The WBU-TC suggests that free-to-air broadcasters should be exempted from charges for use of MPEG-4 AVC. In the absence of such an exemption, the WBU-TC may recommend that the world’s major broadcasters should not use MPEG-4 AVC, says the release.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
