“Government should ensure facilitation not regulation,” India Today Group Chairman Aroon Purie on broadcasting industry
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Aroon Purie, the chairman and editor‑in‑chief of India Today Group, talked to journalists and media executives at FICCI FRAMES 2025 on Tuesday. He praised India’s media reach and pointed out problems that still stand in the way of further growth.
India’s media reach is huge
Purie said India is the world’s largest news market. “We have over 140,000 registered publications and 900 satellite‑TV channels. More than 300 of those run 24‑hour news,” he explained. In Delhi alone, a dozen English newspapers appear every morning, while regional papers keep people informed across the country.
Broadcasting faces payment and regulation hurdles
When cable started, channel distribution was easy, but now broadcasters must pay cable operators carriage fees. Digitisation didn’t fix the problem, and TRAI’s price‑control rules also keep market forces from working properly, the chief editor added. “Better growth will come if the government facilitates instead of regulating,” Purie said.
Many news channels are losing money
Purie pointed out that today’s news TV stations are barely breaking even. A business model that works in other sectors is breaking down in media. “This is the only industry losing money but still attracting new entrants,” he said.
Digital platforms aren’t journalists
He warned that Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are acting as “new editors‑in‑chief” by controlling distribution without writing stories. “Disruption isn’t the problem; the challenge is to make journalism itself valuable,” Purie said. “We survive on the stories we tell.”
FICCI FRAMES celebrates its 25‑year legacy
This year’s festival, held at INR 500 year mark, focuses on “RISE Together – Reimagine, Innovate, Strengthen, Empower.” The event is a key platform for collaboration in the media and entertainment sector.
In summary, India’s media is powerful and vast, but regulatory limits, carriage fees, and digital dominance block its potential. Aroon Purie called for a smoother policy environment and a stronger focus on high‑quality journalism to secure a profitable and sustainable future.
Source: aninews
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