Media News Digest June 24, 2021

By Pickle  June 24, 2021

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TOI, DD News, AIR on Top in Most Trusted Media Brands List

Times of India and State-run DD News (Doordarshan) and All India Radio retained high levels of trust among consumers in India, according to a survey by The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. As per the Reuters list released on Wednesday, the Times of India topped the list, followed by DD News, AIR, BBC and The Indian Express. Others in the top 10 include Economic Times, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, Business Standard and CNN. According to the Reuters study, Indian print brands, in general, are more “trusted than television brands”, which are far more polarised and sensational in their coverage. Republic TV and The Wire, despite its popularity as a news source, has the “highest levels of distrust”. The data for the survey is based on responses mainly from English-speaking, online news users in India. The respondents are generally more affluent, younger, have higher levels of formal education, and are more likely to live in cities than the wider Indian population.

Ekans to Entertain: New Indian Superhero Series in Cartoon Network from June 27

Cartoon Network India has announced its first local superhero and CGI series, Ekans – Ek Se Badhkar Snake. In the latest original Indian series of WarnerMedia channel, folk mythology meets the smartest, tech-savvy kid on the block. The show features the 13-year-old street-smart Ekans, who is “the chosen one” thanks to his heart of gold and fearless attitude. With extraordinary serpent-like powers, the tech-savvy youngster obtains heightened sensory perceptions, ability to camouflage, flexibility and strength to keep humanity safe. According to Abhishek Dutta, South Asia Network Head for Cartoon Network and POGO, “Kids and their families are going to love Ekans, the show’s teen protagonist, because of his intelligence, unique superpowers and his ability to overcome challenges for the greater good. We have high hopes for our first sci-fi superhero.”

Get Ready for Toronto Film Festival. Industry Registration Begins June 25

The 46th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 9-18) features 10 days of international and Canadian cinema with over 100 films in its Official Selection, events featuring acclaimed industry guests, and TIFF’s Industry Conference. While the world is moving towards a degree of normalcy, many of the industry and press colleagues may not be able to travel across international borders. In response, Toronto is to continue with its TIFF Digital Cinema Pro platform that will host Press & Industry screenings, the Industry Conference, press conferences, as well as the TIFF Industry Selects market. For now, Industry passes will focus on bringing you the best online experience.

Amazon-MGM $8.5 Billion Deal to be Probed

The Federal Trade Commission will review Amazon.com Inc.’s proposed acquisition of Hollywood studio MGM. Amazon last month announced its deal for MGM, which would boost its Prime Video streaming platform in a market that includes rivals such as Netflix Inc. and Walt Disney Co. MGM has a library of more than 4,000 films, including the James Bond franchise, and a television catalog that includes ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Vikings’. The department has recently reviewed transactions involving video content, including Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox and AT&T Inc.’s acquisition of Time Warner, a deal the department unsuccessfully attempted to block in court.

Setback for WhatsApp in Court

The Delhi High Court has refused to stay the notice to WhatsApp by the Director-General of Competition Commission of India (CCI). It declined a fresh plea by WhatsApp to put on hold CCI notice seeking information regarding the messaging app’s controversial new privacy policy. A vacation bench of justices Anup Jairam Bhambhani and Jasmeet Singh said an application seeking stay of further steps in the investigation already stands filed in which notice was issued to the director general of CCI in which no interim relief was given by the division bench on May 6 and is listed for consideration on July 9. The bench said: “We also find that there is substantial overlap, in fact near identity, as between the prayers made in … (earlier application) and those made in the present application. For the foregoing reason, we do not consider it appropriate to stay the operation of impugned notice dated June 8, at this stage.”

New IT rules: Madras HC Sends Notice to Govt

The Madras high court has issued a notice to the Union government on a plea moved by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) and journalist Mukund Padmanabhan that challenges the constitutional validity of the new information technology rules and calls them a threat to the freedom of press and to free speech in India. The petition has contended that these rules violate Articles 14 (equality), 19 (1) (a) and 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution (right to freedom of speech and expression and right to profession). Hearing the application for interim orders, a bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy recorded the petitioners’ submission that there is “sufficient basis for the petitioners…apprehension that coercive and arm-twisting action may be taken” under such provisions.

Sushant Singh’s Dad Moves HC Against Films on Son

Father of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, KK Singh, moved the Delhi High Court challenging a single-judge Bench order, which had dismissed his plea seeking an injunction against the proposed movies being made on the actor’s life. The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought to know whether movie, Nyay: The Justice, which is purportedly based on the life of Sushant Singh Rajput, has been released as scheduled on 11 June after both the director of the film and the actor’s father gave contradictory statements on the aspect. The High Court was hearing an appeal filed by Krishna Kishore Singh challenging a single judge’s order refusing to stay the release of the movie or to restrain anyone from using his son’s name or likeness in movies.

LinkedIn Blocks ‘Sensitive Topics’ in China

LinkedIn is blocking profiles from being viewed inside China if they mention politically sensitive topics such as the Tiananmen Square massacre, including benign references to academic study. The Microsoft-owned professional networking site has written to many China analysts, alerting them to “prohibited content” on their profile pages. It told Swedish writer and photographer Jojje Olsson via email that a reference in his education section meant his profile, comments and posts would “not be made viewable in China”. The move has attracted criticism. Linkedin had earlier said it worked to ensure we remain in compliance with local law. “We’re a global platform with an obligation to respect the laws that apply to us, including adhering to Chinese government regulations for our localised version of LinkedIn in China,” it said.