Budget 2009 wishlist: Media industry for reduction in service tax, FBT
With just a few days left for the Union Budget 2009-10, there are various expectations from different sectors and industries. Like the corporates and common man alike, the media industry, too, is hoping for a few rebates and reforms. Topping the Budget wishlist of the media industry is exemption or reduction in service tax and fringe benefit tax.
With just a few days left for the Union Budget 2009-10, there are various expectations from different sectors and industries. Like the corporates and common man alike, the media industry, too, is hoping for a few rebates and reforms. exchange4media spoke to some leading media players to find out what’s there on their Budget wishlist.
Expectations from the digital media and online services sector are running high. Exemption or reduction in service tax is the key agenda for digital media players.
Atul Hedge, CEO, Ignite Digital Solutions Pvt Ltd, said, “My expectations from this Budget for the digital media industry is service tax exemption or reduction from the same. This year, the Budget would be more powerful than last year. There would be no dramatic changes in the Budget, but at the same time, the UPA Government has come in a strong position, so we can hope that this year’s Budget would definitely be better than last year.”
Electronic media players are looking for exemption or reduction in FBT (fringe benefit tax) and service tax. Barun Das, CEO, Zee News Ltd, mooted, “Bring FBT to the level of 5 per cent from the current 20 per cent. Media companies need to incur several expenses in travel and communication for their operations like newsgathering, shows, etc. TV channels should be treated on par with the print media, which enjoys exemption from service tax.”
He further said, “Take various steps to encourage digitization. For example, make digital set-top boxes cheaper; 4 per cent special additional duty and 8 per cent countervailing duty should be brought down to zero. Treat broadcasting, DTH and cable services as part of the infrastructure industry to fuel their rapid expansion. Service tax, entertainment tax and VAT should be subsumed in GST and only a single unified GST rate should apply.”
Agreeing with Das, Amit Sinha, Director & CEO, Triveni Media Ltd, said, “Service tax exemption or reduction is the key expectation for the broadcasters. The rate of service tax is high compared to the print industry. We are hoping that the Government will look into it in this year’s Budget.”
Samir Ahluwalia, Editor, Zee Business, noted, “The world has turned upside-down since the time the last Budget was presented. Post that, several mini-budgets have been presented as ‘stimulus packages’ to tackle the global economic slowdown. That’s why this year’s Budget assumes extra importance.”
He further said, “It is being billed as a Budget, which will redefine the contours of India’s economic growth, test the growth rate against a surging tide of bad news globally, and a Budget that will take India ahead. It will be bold, difference and will come from a government brimming with confidence. It will take India ahead in its entirety.”
On his expectation from the Union Budget, Ishan Raina, CEO & MD, Out of Home Media, said, “I am expecting a Budget that will make people feel good, only then will it be a good Budget for me and the industry too.”
Along with national broadcasters, foreign telecasters, too, have their own expectations. Himanshu Parekh, Executive Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers, pointed out, “The main income streams of FTCs beaming their channels in India comprise ad revenues and subscription revenues. The ad revenues earned by FTCs are liable to tax in India only if they have a Permanent Establishment (‘PE’) in India.”
He further said, “Taxability of subscription revenue also is a highly controversial issue, that is, whether it amounts to royalty (taxable on a gross basis) or business income (taxable on the same basis as ad revenues). The FTCs are of the view that it is in the nature of business income, while the Tax Authorities treat it as royalty in certain cases.”
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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur
The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more
With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.
The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.
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ShareSwapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out
The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'
Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."
The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."
COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.
Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.
He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board
e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.
According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.
As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.
A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.
Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.
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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall
The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall
Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.
“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.
“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."
"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."
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KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias
Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments
KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.
Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy
Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.
Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."
Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."
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