Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of the 6 per cent equalisation levy on digital advertisements, effective April 1, 2025, while moving amendments to the Finance Bill in the Lok Sabha. The move is expected to ease the tax burden on global tech companies such as Google and Meta, potentially boosting ad spending and foreign investment in India’s digital sector. Introduced in 2016, the levy applied to payments by Indian businesses to foreign firms for digital advertising services. It was expanded in 2020 to include a 2 per cent tax on e-commerce operators, which was removed last year following an agreement with the US. The 6 per cent levy now being scrapped was the original component. How will this impact media sector? The removal of this tax on digital advertisements is expected to significantly impact the Indian news and media industry. The policy change, aimed at simplifying the tax regime and promoting a competitive digital economy, will re

In a dramatic and necessary course correction, the Supreme Court has stayed a controversial ruling by the Allahabad High Court that sent shockwaves across the legal and political spectrum.  The Allahabad High Court had recently ruled that grabbing a woman’s breasts and pulling at her pyjama strings did not amount to an attempt to rape. The judgment, delivered by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, sparked immediate outrage for its insensitivity and troubling interpretation of sexual violence. Hot off the press A day after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the order, a Bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai minced no words, calling the observations "insensitive" and "inhuman." Amit Anand Choudhary in The Times of India reported that the top court stayed the high court’s order while criticising the language used in the judgment and the message it potentially sends to society. The Hindu’s Krishnadas Rajagopal noted that the court emphasised the need for a victim-

Freelance games and entertainment reporter Jam Walker has described the aim of their new TikTok channel venture with freelance gaming reporter Alice Clarke as “very much to be real, be normal and ourselves”. “It's just gonna be us and how we relate to each other and what we like doing,” Walker told Influencing. “We just knew from the outset if this wasn't a thing we were always gonna enjoy doing by creating a character or brands, then why would we do it?” As for content, Walker teased that the Jam & Alice TikTok channel will feature a real mix of different styles in gaming, gadget and appliance topics.  “We'll have a mix of silly videos, legit real review videos, journalism bits, stupid flatter fancy things, and videos that dart between those tones within themselves, too. It will be us, how we relate to each other, and what we like doing.” Walker also said they will be receptive to PR pitches for Jam and Alice.  “If you are a person who holds cool produ

  In what Nine says is “a sensational start to the 2025 ratings year for Nine Radio,” Sydney’s 2GB and Melbourne’s 3AW are dominating their respective markets in the year's first GfK Survey. The company said 2GB has reclaimed its position as Sydney’s number one station, delivering a 11.6 share and outstanding results across all key timeslots.  Ben Fordham Live is the number one in Breakfast with a dominant 14.4 share. The show covers news, talk, and opinion. In his first survey in Mornings, Mark Levy’s show claimed the top spot with a 13.5 share.  Melbourne’s 3AW has surged even further ahead as the city’s top radio station, delivering a 16.8 share, up a significant 3.2 points. Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft in Breakfast, achieved a 21.3 share (up 1.3) setting a high bar for the day. Tom Elliott followed suit, grabbing the number one spot in Mornings with 19.0 (up 3.4).  Greg Byrnes, National Content Manager, Nine Radio, said: “These are stunning resu

In a first for the Sullivan Logistics WAFL competition, an expanded multi-year broadcast agreement with the Western Australian AFL has been struck with Seven West Media. The deal will see all Sullivan Logistics WAFL coverage broadcast live, free and exclusively on Seven West Media via its platforms – Seven, 7mate and 7plus Sport – from 2025 to 2027, with a further option for a longer-term extension. In 2025, 21 marquee WAFL games will be broadcast live and free on Seven or 7mate with at least 11 of those games to be played under lights. The prime-time action kicks off between Perth v South Fremantle, at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday, 5 April on Seven and 7plus Sport. Each of the 21 marquee games will also be simulcast live on 7plus Sport, ensuring nationwide coverage and an exclusive home for all other WAFL games, including 76 league games, the WAFLW Grand Final and the WAFL Colts Grand Final. In addition, Women’s WAFL and WAFL Colts will be broadcast exclusiv

Times Network will host the Times Now Summit 2025 on March 27-28 under the theme “Keeping Bharat Ahead,” focusing on India’s role in governance, economy, infrastructure, security and innovation. The two-day event will feature speakers including Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Bill Gates, Denis Alipov, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Smriti Irani and Sara Ali Khan. Backed by state governments and institutions such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Bennett University and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, the summit will bring together global leaders and policymakers to discuss India’s trajectory and global positioning.

Shishir Bhate, editor-in-chief at Yahoo India and a seasoned journalist with over three decades in the industry, passed away on March 25, 2025. He was widely respected for his editorial leadership across Nagpur Times, The Indian Express, Business Standard, Rediff.com and Yahoo India. Rediff.com paid tribute to its former editorial director, calling him a “strict disciplinarian, focused head of department, and gentleman,” and remembered him as “always affable, always willing to help.” Former colleagues, including Chaitra Anand, Navneet Mundhra and Anjana R, shared heartfelt messages on social media recalling Bhate’s wisdom, wit, kindness and mentorship. His mortal remains will be donated to a medical college following a final tribute at Manipal Hospital mortuary.