Last month, the government issued clarifications regarding its earlier press note on 26% foreign direct investment (FDI) in digital news sites, a move that has left several questions unanswered. The Union Cabinet had approved 26% FDI in digital media in line with print media guidelines, even though it allows 49% foreign equity in news channels. These could also be news agencies that gather, write and distribute or transmit news directly or indirectly to digital media entities and news aggregators. Even the clause on news agencies gathering and distributing news to digital media entities is ambiguous. “It is not clear if this only includes news agencies which distribute content exclusively to digital news media entity and digital news aggregators," Sinha added.

Source: Mint November 04, 2020 17:25 UTC