Regulators
Zee forms interim committee of senior executives to oversee operations
Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises has replaced MD and CEO Punit Goenka with an interim committee of senior executives. The objective is to ensure seamless operations within the media and entertainment firm.
The development comes almost a month after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued an interim order on 12 June, preventing Goenka and Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra from occupying top managerial roles in any listed company.
In an internal email, Goenka wrote, “Over the last one month or so, there have been a lot of words that might have caught your attention. Especially the ones that came with a tinge of negativity. And hence I thought, it is important for me to pen down this note for all of you, to ensure that there is the utmost level of clarity and transparency.
As you all might have noted, on June 12, 2023, I was served with an ex-parte order by the SEBI, concerning certain transactions conducted at an Essel Group level in the year 2019. With the help of legal experts, I am exercising my legal rights to seek justice. SAT has given a hearing to the matter and has passed an order on July 10, 2023, setting a framework for this process. In line with the order and in accordance with the law, I am taking the next steps. There is nothing more to it.”
He further added, “Since the order restricts him from holding a directorial or key managerial position in a listed company, in the interim, the Board of our Company has constituted an Interim Committee of senior executives to ensure smooth operations and day-to-day functioning. The Interim Committee will be under the supervision of the Board and will seek its guidance on all matters pertaining to the Company.”
He continued that the important point to focus on is not what is happening to him but what is happening, or should happen to our great Company. The important point to be excited about is the fact that this Company is all set to merge with the most prestigious global media and entertainment brand – Sony.
He commented, “The proposed merger with Sony has reached a very important juncture. The Mumbai Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has reserved its order for approval in the final stage of the hearing conducted on July 10, 2023. The merger has already been cleared by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE) and above, by the esteemed shareholders of our Company.”
I&B Ministry
Digital radio, D2M tech set to reshape broadcasting and public messaging
Govt pushes next-gen delivery while TRAI tightens grip on spam ecosystem
NEW DELHI: India’s broadcasting and telecom landscape is undergoing a quiet but significant upgrade, with digital radio and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technologies emerging as powerful tools for mass communication, while regulators step up efforts to tackle spam calls.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, digital radio and D2M are poised to transform how content reaches audiences by making more efficient use of spectrum. In simple terms, multiple channels can now be delivered over a single frequency, opening the door to a wider range of free-to-air content.
D2M technology takes this a step further by enabling video, audio and data to be broadcast directly to mobile handsets without relying on SIM cards or mobile data. The result is a resilient and cost-effective data pipe that can deliver everything from entertainment and education to critical emergency alerts, even in low-connectivity scenarios.
At the same time, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is tightening its grip on unsolicited commercial communication, better known as spam calls. The regulator has deployed a distributed ledger technology platform to bring transparency and accountability into the system.
Through this blockchain-based setup, consumers can register their preferences on receiving promotional messages, while businesses and telemarketers must also sign up and operate within defined rules. The platform also includes a complaint mechanism that allows users to report spam, with complaints shared across telecom operators for coordinated action.
The government’s broader push is being supported by infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme. Implemented through Prasar Bharati, the initiative focuses on modernising networks such as Akashvani and Doordarshan, including digitisation and adoption of next-generation broadcast equipment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan said these steps are part of a larger effort to promote emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s broadcasting backbone. The response came to a query raised by member of Parliament Rao Rajendra Singh.
Together, these developments point to a dual-track strategy: expanding access to reliable, low-cost content while cleaning up the communication ecosystem. As digital pipes get smarter and spam filters sharper, India’s airwaves may soon feel a lot less noisy and far more useful.
