The European Union has approved the creation of Star India (SIPL), a collaboration between Reliance Industries, Walt Disney Company, and BTS Investment 1, according to BestMediaInfo.   This approval is a crucial step towards finalising the deal that will merge the assets of Viacom18, StarPlus and JioCinema to create a robust entity of the two media giants, to compete against major players in the streaming sector.   The merged entity will possess over 100 television channels and two streaming platforms with over 750 million viewers across India.  Under the merger, Reliance Industries will hold a 63.16 per cent stake, and Disney will own 36.84 per cent.  Nita Ambani, chairperson of Reliance Foundation, will lead SIPL as its chairperson, while Uday Shankar, a former Disney executive, will serve as vice chairperson.   The merger has also received nods from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the National Company Law Tribunal. 

Seasoned journalist Debasmita Ghosh has been promoted to deputy news editor at The Times of India Chennai, where she will anchor the business pages, overseeing the editing and packaging of stories from her team.  Formerly an assistant news editor, Ghosh will also lend her expertise to other sections by editing and occasionally writing human interest stories. She took to social media to announce the news of her promotion, stating she was excited to "take up challenging work, more ideation and more storytelling" for TOI in Chennai. Reflecting on her promotion, Ghosh shared with Influencing India that it “feels great to be promoted and recognized” by the organisation. She emphasised the role’s importance, noting, "The Times of India, being the largest circulated daily in the world, has a huge responsibility in news dissemination, and I feel glad that the management deems it fit enough for me to hold such a position of responsibility." With 20 years in journalism, Ghosh’s e

In a strategic move ahead of the high-stakes Jharkhand elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pledged to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, exempting tribal communities from its ambit. This promise is stirring political waters in Jharkhand, a state with a significant tribal population and complex socio-political dynamics. UCC, as explained by Indian Express’ Abhishek Angad, is a proposed legal framework that aims to replace personal laws based on religion with a unified set of civil laws for all citizens covering issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. Proponents argue it promotes equality and national integration, while critics see it as a threat to cultural and religious diversity. Home Minister Amit Shah, in a recent rally, emphasised that the UCC would not interfere with the traditional practices and customs of Jharkhand’s tribal communities, attempting to balance the party’s reformist image with cultural sensitivity. He un

News Corp Australia has appointed Dean La Rosa as general manager of commercial data, a role created to advance its audience intelligence platform, Intent Connect.  According to a press release from the organisation, La Rosa, who previously led commercial data and programmatic at the Seven Network, also brings experience from Nine Entertainment and Acxiom. He will report to Pippa Leary, managing director of News Corp's free news and lifestyle division. In the release, Leary described La Rosa as a “pioneer in the data space,” noting his deep expertise in data analytics and digital media strategies.  La Rosa expressed enthusiasm for the role, stating that he looks forward to enhancing audience connections and enabling outcome-based marketing through advanced data science.  His role begins immediately, with plans to build a commercial data team through key hires.  

The Tech Council of Australia will host its National Tech Summit next week, from Monday, November 11 to Wednesday, November 13.  Speaking on the event, TCA’s Head of Communications and Marketing, Theodora Chan, said, “The National Tech Summit is a premier event bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to shape Australia's tech future…the summit will present an inclusive and exciting vision for our country's tech landscape.” The National Tech Summit will this year take place at the Timber Yard in Port Melbourne and will be supported by the Victoria Statement Government, Austrade, and LaunchVic. Chan says summit attendees can expect a program to discuss critical policy areas for tech ecosystems.  “The summit will explore pathways to enhance capabilities and attract investment in evolving and emerging industries.”, Chan said. “Key discussions will centre around the challenges and opportunities Australia faces in becoming a global tech

Former senior 4BC Breakfast producer Mark Dransfield has joined the on-air lineup at Australian Independent Radio News according to Radio Today. Dransfield has a diverse background in radio, having worked at stations such as 4BH and QFM, and has experience as a TV producer for Channel 7’s Sunrise and Ten’s Morning Show. Most recently, he served as a traffic reporter for the Australian Traffic Network, providing reports for Brisbane. He will begin his new role at Air News immediately.  

Award-winning journalist Sally Sara has been named the new presenter of Radio National Breakfast, starting in 2025. This announcement was made during the program by outgoing presenter Patricia Karvelas. ABC has put out a press release on the changes. Sally brings a wealth of experience, having reported from over 40 countries as an ABC foreign correspondent, including regions like Africa, Iraq, India, and Afghanistan. She has previously worked on programs such as Landline and Foreign Correspondent and has hosted The World Today since 2020. Expressing her enthusiasm, Sally stated, “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the Radio National Breakfast team. I can’t wait to engage the audience with stories from across the country and around the world.” Joining her will be Melissa Clarke, the ABC's National Affairs Editor with 16 years in the parliamentary press gallery; Peter Ryan, Senior Business Correspondent with nearly 40 years of journalism experience; and Luke