On the third day of Prasar Bharati’s MPEG-2 Free Dish auction, intense bidding took place across various categories, generating a total of Rs 328.60 crore from entertainment, movie, regional and news channels.    The auction highlighted the strong demand for Free Dish slots, especially in the General Entertainment Channels, movie and news segments.    According to Broadcast and Cablesat, the regional and music category (Bucket B) contributed Rs 77.85 crore, with six channels, including B4U Music, Mastiii, Chumbak TV, Manoranjan Prime, Zee Biskope, and B4U Bhojpuri securing slots.    Hindi news channels NDTV India, Republic Bharat and News18 India secured a total of Rs 42.65 crore in Bucket C.    In the first two days of the auction, Bucket A+ generated a total of Rs 109.50 crore and Bucket A fetched Rs 98.6 crore.     With Bucket A+ emerging as the highest-valued category, the auction highlights the significance of Free Dish for mass-market reach.  

Radio City has launched a new initiative, “Studio on Wheels” in Prayagraj.  The innovative mobile studio has commenced its travel within the city, delivering on-air, on- ground, and digital experiences to listeners. It will continue throughout the duration of the MahaKumbh.   As the exclusive radio partner for this event, Radio City’s mobile studio, also known as the  ‘Swachata Rath’, will promote environmental responsibility by distributing eco-friendly, non-plastic bags to devotees while advocating for cleanliness and sustainability.   Cabinet Minister A K Sharma, the Mayor of Prayagraj, the commissioner of Nagar Nigam, and UP’s state minister for urban development and energy flagged the initiative, reinforcing their  commitment to a cleaner and greener MahaKumbh.   More than just a travelling studio, Studio on Wheels serves as a platform 

OpenAI is attempting to prevent Indian media groups, including Adani-owned NDTV and Mukesh Ambani's Network18 channels, from joining a copyright lawsuit against the company. According to Reuters, OpenAI's 31-page court filing stated that the US-based AI giant is not obligated to enter into partnership deals with media groups to use their published content.    This is in accordance with the ongoing lawsuit filed by Indian news agency ANI, which claims that ChatGPT allegedly used its published content without permission to train its AI chatbot. Following this, the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), along with prominent media houses like Indian Express, Hindustan Times and NDTV, filed an intervention application in the Delhi high court in ANI's copyright lawsuit against OpenAI.  In its recent filing dated February 11, 2025, OpenAI said that “it has not used any of the applicants’ or the DNPA’s members' content” to train its AI models. OpenAI previously den

  The ABC is considering relocating its Adelaide office and is launching a feasibility study in partnership with the South Australian Government to explore potential sites, the broadcaster announced in a press release.  The current Collinswood facility no longer meets the technological and operational demands of ABC’s news, radio, and screen production teams. ABC Managing Director David Anderson confirmed that the move, planned for 2029, aligns with the broadcaster’s long-term property strategy.  "We’re excited to work with the state government to ensure our new home meets the needs of our staff and embraces the latest in broadcasting technology," he said. South Australia’s Arts Minister Andrea Michaels welcomed the initiative, noting that it could create opportunities for greater collaboration between ABC and the state’s arts organisations, including Country Arts SA, State Theatre and State Opera.  The feasibility study will consider input from ABC employees, st

  Lucy Smith, host of Triple J Mornings and Sose Fuamoli, a familiar voice on Double J, will alternate hosting The Beat Report on ABC News Breakfast, taking over from Zan Rowe, who helmed the segment for a decade, Mumbrella reported. Rowe, who conceived the segment in 2014, announced her departure in December 2024, calling it a privilege to share music news and analysis, particularly during challenging times for artists.  Her exit follows a wave of changes at ABC, including the departure of longtime ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland and veteran broadcasters Robbie Buck, Simon Marnie, and Sarah Macdonald. ABC’s Head of Audio, Ben Latimer, said the programming shake-up was part of a broader strategy to refresh content and engage new audiences.  With Smith and Fuamoli bringing their expertise and passion for music, The Beat Report is set to continue its legacy with a fresh perspective.  

The 23rd annual Samsung Australian IT Journalism Awards were officially launched by Influencing CEO Phil Sim last night, with Livecast partner Cisco playing host at their Meraki offices in Kent Street to around 50 tech journalists and industry experts. The evening featured the launch of the 2025 awards, the announcement of the new Best Science Journalism category, and remarks from Cisco's Chief Technology Officer Carl Solder. Entries close today, and the judges will have their work cut out from next week thanks to a record number of entries already received. The Lizzies are possible because of the ongoing support of the Industry. Thankyou to lifetime sponsor Waterson Marketing Communications, along with returning supporters Optus, NetApp, Meta, The Australian Computer Society, Amazon, new partners Alternaleaf, our old friends Apptio who rejoin in support of the photo booth, Aussie Broadband who return as the official Gin Sponsor, Cisco who return as the live cast partner, and Ad

The much-anticipated New Income Tax Bill 2025 was tabled in Parliament today by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, marking a significant step in India’s tax reform journey. The bill spans 622 pages with 536 sections, promising a simplified, transparent and user-friendly tax structure to reduce complexities, improve compliance, and make tax filing more accessible. Hot off the Press The Times of India reported that while the bill does not propose a major overhaul of tax rates, it introduces key structural changes to streamline the existing framework. The Hindu also highlighted that the bill will do away with outdated provisions and reduce cross-references, ensuring a more coherent tax system. A major highlight is the introduction of the ‘Tax Year’ concept, replacing the ‘Previous Year’ terminology and making tax calculations more intuitive. Hindustan Times’ Saubhadra Chatterji and Rajeev Jayaswal noted that the bill aims to bring clarity and simplicity, removing red