Broadcasters have urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to strengthen regulations against cross‑border piracy and the illegal import of DTH services. Industry stakeholders said unauthorised distribution of foreign DTH signals and pirated content is causing significant revenue losses to broadcasters and distributors, undermining India’s regulatory framework and creating an uneven playing field for licensed operators. According to e4m, broadcasters have called for stricter monitoring of illegal set‑top boxes (STBs) and tougher enforcement against cross‑border signal transmission. They also sought coordinated efforts between regulators and enforcement agencies, including the appointment of a nodal officer in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to address DTH smuggling. With misuse of digital platforms and satellite signals making illegal distribution easier, broadcasters stressed the need for stron

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has partnered with Google to launch a free AI skilling programme for 15,000 individuals in the creative and media sectors. The initiative is being implemented through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies in New Delhi. Launched on March 23, the programme will run in two phases. Phase I (March–June 2026) focuses on foundational AI learning through Google Career Certificates and cloud‑based generative AI courses. Completion of this stage is mandatory to progress further. Phase II (July–December 2026) will offer advanced, project‑based training in storytelling, YouTube practices, and tools such as Gemini 3, Nano Banana, and Vertex AI, conducted across major cities. According to Best Media Info, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the programme will be free, while Secretary Sanjay Jaju noted it will support creators in adapting to the evolving digital landscape.

For the first time in two decades, ABC staff went on strike for 24 hours from 11am yesterday demanding better pay . The strike forced ABC managing director Hugh Marks to apologise to audiences as the network ran BBC content, reruns and members' statements in federal parliament. According to an ABC report, "nightly news bulletins and flagship current affairs program 7.30 did not go to air on Wednesday evening, and ABC News Breakfast isn't being broadcast on Thursday morning". Radio programs AM, PM, The World Today and Radio National Breakfast were also impacted. The ABC has offered staff a 10 pr cent increase over three years and Marks told ABC radio that the Union's request for a 4.5 per cent annual increases over that period "is unmanageable for us without having to significantly impact the services we provide for audiences". Public service union organiser Sam McCrone said that staff would continue fighting, hinting towards further action. Media

Top stories across today's newspaper front pages for Thursday, 26th March, 2026. Fuel crisis bites: shortages, price spikes and a political scramble A widening fuel squeeze is driving fears of supply-chain disruption and “empty shelves”, with motorists changing travel plans and small businesses—from independent servos to restaurants and community services—reporting immediate impacts. The debate is hardening into a policy fight over energy security, including calls for domestic oil development and a fresh national cabinet response. Covered by: The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Australian Financial Review, The Mercury. $2b smelter bailout in doubt as Labor divides over GST and industry support A proposed $2 billion rescue package for the Tomago aluminium smelter is at risk amid a federal–NSW dispute over GST revenue and growing scrutiny of whether taxpayer-funded manufacturing bailouts stack up. The A

Scroll through any social media feed today and one thing stands out — influence is no longer driven by scale alone, but by credibility. For PR and communications teams, this marks a clear shift. Influencers are no longer just channels used to amplify campaigns. They have become embedded in the storytelling process, shaping how audiences perceive brands in real time. This evolution is being driven by a simple reality: audiences have become far more discerning. Content that feels scripted or transactional is quickly ignored, while narratives that feel authentic and culturally relevant are more likely to resonate. As a result, influencer marketing is moving away from visibility-driven campaigns toward trust-led collaborations.  Authenticity Over Algorithms   Joshika Kapoor, Founder of One PR, has seen this shift play out in how brands evaluate success. “In today’s landscape, it’s less about follower count and more about community trust, releva

Image of the Day India accounted for three of the five most-polluted cities globally and 29 of the top 50. Picture by -Sunil Ghosh - Hindustan Times    AI Flags, Police Act: Telangana’s rapid response saves over 100 lives Minutes after a Warangal student posted a video of a suicide attempt, police reached his home and saved him. In Mahabubnagar, a similar alert from a social media video helped police track and hospitalise a young man in time. These are not isolated rescues. They are part of a rapidly evolving system where distress signals posted online are converted into real-world interventions. Since November, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has received 89 such alerts and rescued 76 individuals, according to the Telangana Socio Economic Outlook 2026. With subsequent interventions, officials say 106 people have been saved in just five months. At the centre of this system is a continuous, AI-driven monitoring mechanism developed in collaboration with Meta. Th

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has upheld the acquittal of the chief editor of Him Himwanti newspaper in a defamation case. The court said that publishing information in truth and good faith, without intent to harm, does not amount to defamation under the law. Justice Sandeep Sharma was hearing a plea challenging a trial court order that had cleared the editor of charges related to alleged false corruption reports. The court observed that opinions expressed in good faith about a public servant’s conduct are not defamation. It also noted that the complainant failed to prove any intent to harm, and upheld the trial court’s decision, The Indian Express reported.