The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to all registered Multi System Operators (MSOs) to furnish the requisite information of their Conditional Access System (CAS) and Subscriber Management System (SMS) to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) by June 20, 2025.    The advisory follows a directive from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) that had amended the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017.   “Every distributor of television channel shall, from such date and after such testing and certification, as may be specified by the Authority by order, deploy such conditional access system and subscriber management system which conform to the requirements as specified in the Schedule IX:   Provided that for the conditional access systems and subscriber management systems already deployed before the date of issue of the order referred to in this sub-regul

  In a strategic effort to strengthen its international presence, Times Network has launched ET NOW (Channel 2651) and Times Now Navbharat (Channel 2696) on Rogers Xfinity TV in Canada. This expansion is in partnership with Ethnic Channels Group (ECG), the world’s largest multicultural broadcaster.  As part of Rogers' expanded international TV offering, both channels are available on Free Preview until June 17, giving viewers access to premium Indian business and Hindi-language news content. This initiative underscores Times Network’s commitment to delivering credible, high-quality news to the Indian diaspora.  ET NOW, India’s leading business news channel, offers in-depth coverage of financial markets, economic trends, and entrepreneurial developments. Times Now Navbharat, the network’s Hindi news channel, delivers sharp, focused, and insightful reporting tailored for Hindi-speaking audiences abroad.  Commenting on the launch, Jagdish Mulchandani, Executive Pr

  Mumbai-based communications agency Madchatter Brand Solutions has joined the Worldcom Public Relations Group, a global network of independent PR firms. This strategic move will enhance Madchatter’s ability to execute campaigns for both Indian and international clients.  With access to Worldcom’s network of over 80 firms across 40 countries, Madchatter can now support global mandates, offer India-focused insights, and deliver tailored communication strategies for brands in diverse markets.  Rachna Baruah, Founder and CEO of Madchatter, called the partnership a key milestone. “At a time when regional boundaries in business are blurring, this alliance gives us direct access to global expertise, helping us deliver culturally nuanced, globally aligned strategies.”  Worldcom’s rigorous selection process evaluates each agency’s operational strengths, regional understanding, and alignment with the group’s collaborative ethos. Bjorn Mogensen, Recruitment Chair

Image source: The Washington Post, Brookings Institution, India Today, Hindustan Times and Stimson Centre; Edited by Dinesh Raj M   As Israel and Iran edge closer to a full-blown regional conflict, India has begun urgently relocating its citizens from the epicentres of danger in both countries.  Hot off the Press According to The Hindu’s Kallol Bhattacherjee and Suhasini Haidar, thousands of Indians, including students, have been moved from Tehran, Qom and Mashhad to safer areas within Iran. Indian officials are coordinating with neighbouring countries such as Armenia and Azerbaijan to facilitate potential land evacuations as Iranian airspace remains shut. Meanwhile, Hindustan Times' Rezaul H Laskar reported that in Israel, the Indian Embassy has been guiding citizens toward land crossings with Jordan and Egypt, as aerial routes remain suspended. Emergency control rooms have been activated in Tel Aviv and Tehran, with MEA teams working around the clock to ensure the safety

Supporting freelance games journalism and wanting to be part of a broader movement towards subscriptions in gaming journalism, has led writer and owner of the Infinite Lives Substack, Harrison Polites, to introduce a paid subscription. Polites said he’d considered the paid subscription model since reaching the Substack's one-year milestone.  “When I announced the paid subscriptions, I added six paid subscribers, which is phenomenal, so I managed to get six paid subscribers on my first day of announcing paid subscriptions, which is pretty remarkable. So far, so good, and I hope to keep the pace up.” The genesis of paid subscription came about because, “I’m working towards trying to afford my first freelancer piece on the site…I've thought about the movement to subscription-based games journalism, and traditionally, gaming media has been resistant to asking its audience to pay, as major publishers get high traffic from articles”, said Polites. “This means it's he

Media Watch presenter Linton Besser.  The ABC is investigating a senior defence correspondent over allegations he travelled to Germany on a trip paid for by a major weapons manufacturer without disclosing the arrangement to the broadcaster or its audience. The issue came up yesterday evening on Media Watch with presenter Linton Bresser revealing ABC defence correspondent Andrew Greene is reported to have travelled to Japan and Germany last year, attending press events funded by foreign organisations and arms manufacturers. While his trip to Japan was financed by the privately funded Foreign Press Centre Japan, his recent visit to Germany was reportedly paid for by TKMS. According to Media Watch, Greene did not inform ABC management of his German trip, which involved a business class flight and stays in premium hotels, estimated to cost around $16,000. And Greene did not disclose to the ABC audience that the arms company had funded his travel. The ABC claims it was unaware of

The ABC has announced award-winning journalist Jacob Greber as the new Political Editor of nightly current affairs flagship 7.30. The announcement was made during Thursday night’s program, with 7.30 presenter Sarah Ferguson breaking the news to viewers. Jacob joined the ABC in mid 2024 and is currently Chief Digital Political Correspondent. He will take up the new role from 7 July.  Jacob has had an almost 30-year journalism career covering economics, politics and world affairs, starting as a copyboy in the Canberra Press Gallery. After covering state politics for The Courier-Mail in Brisbane he moved to his father’s homeland of Switzerland and worked for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation and then Bloomberg News in Zurich, covering the European economy and Switzerland’s global banks.   Returning to Australia in 2012 he joined The Australian Financial Review as Economics Correspondent, based in Canberra, US Correspondent in Washington DC from 2018-2021 and most r