Thursday, June 02, 2005

100% ownership for non-news titles in India

Exchange4media reports that the Indian government has lifted the 74% cap on foreign investment in non-news print media opening the door for wholly foreign-owned publishing in most magazine and journal sectors. Investors will still need clearance from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting as well as the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and the Reserve Bank of India.

The definition of "non-news" is open to some debate as McGraw Hill and Cybermedia have found in their efforts to launch an Indian edition of Business Week.

At the same time, the Indian industry is debating government plans to set up a Media Regulatory Authority. One well-known TV journalist is reported as saying ""Maddening competition in the media, especially TV, which was rendering it incapable of self-regulation".

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