Anirban Chowdhury &Amp; Ashish Sinha In New Delhi

Stories by Anirban Chowdhury &Amp; Ashish Sinha In New Delhi

Publishers from UAE, Netherlands get FIPB nod

Publishers from UAE, Netherlands get FIPB nod

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2008

Both lifestyle and technical publications are allowed up to 100 per cent foreign investments, according to the norms laid out by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Al-Abbas group of the UAE, through its publishing arm, Twenty First Century Publishing, will be the 50:50 joint venture partner of Bangalore-based Connoisseur Publishing.

SpiceJet overhauls top management

SpiceJet overhauls top management

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2008

Delhi-based low-cost carrier SpiceJet is looking at restructuring its core leadership team as part of US investor Wilbur Ross's strategy of turning around the company.

No security guidelines for 2010 Commonwealth Games

No security guidelines for 2010 Commonwealth Games

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2008

'There are no formal guidelines for security. The Commonwealth Games Federation, London, oversees the preparations. The idea is to ensure that the games go on smoothly. It should not be a fortress,' says A Vasudevan, additional director general, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

Companies hedge on ATF to tackle price volatility

Companies hedge on ATF to tackle price volatility

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2008

In addition to that, an increasing number of airlines like SpiceJet, national carrier Air India and GoAir are either getting into hedging of aviation turbine fuel or increasing the quantum of ATF hedged on the MCX. Last month, state-run Indian Oil Corporation approached MCX to provide it with a platform to hedge its refinery margins and end products from crude oil.

DTH players plan high definition content

DTH players plan high definition content

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2008

This means the consumers will have to pay an additional monthly subscription to get these HD channels. Currently, the popular DTH bouquets (80-120 channels) are available at Rs 150-300 a month across most DTH platforms.

Travel agencies won't sell Jet tickets from Dec 4

Travel agencies won't sell Jet tickets from Dec 4

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2008

Move aimed at forcing airlines to revoke decision to withdraw 5 per cent commission.

Mumbai terror sees mass cancellations in Goa

Mumbai terror sees mass cancellations in Goa

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2008

Inbound travel to the balmy beaches of Goa is expected to drop a significant 60 per cent following large-scale cancellations by charter flights after last week's terror attacks in Mumbai.

Airports on high alert

Airports on high alert

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2008

Mumbai's unprecedented terror attacks have put airports across the country on a high alert.

Four-fold increase in Hindi news channel ratings

Four-fold increase in Hindi news channel ratings

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2008

The Hindi news channels have recorded a four-fold jump in their ratings for November 27, beating even those recorded by the English news channels, as millions of anxious viewers remained glued on to their television sets watching every moment of the real-time gunbattle taking place in south Mumbai.

Bangkok airport crisis to continue till next week

Bangkok airport crisis to continue till next week

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2008

The India-Bangkok sector is operated by carriers like Air India, Jet Airways, Thai Air, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines amongst others and travel companies say it constitutes more than 40 per cent of their business in the south east Asian market. Thousands of protestors have laid siege to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, the world's 18th largest in terms of passenger traffic, as their latest mark of protest against the elected government.

Your air ticket will now be cheaper

Your air ticket will now be cheaper

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2008

Full-service carriers Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Air India have told travel agents that they will not levy the transaction fee on air tickets from November 25. This means tickets will be Rs 350 to Rs 10,000 cheaper of bought from the airline office or website. In all, 16 carriers have shifted to the zero-commission mode. The decision of the airlines might leave 1 million people employed with over 2,000 IATA affiliated travel agencies without jobs.

Will the Khans save Bollywood?

Will the Khans save Bollywood?

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2008

If Bollywood's three forthcoming films starring Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in Ghajini, Yuvvraaj, and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, respectively, become commercially hit then 2008 may prove to be a good year for the Hindi film industry, especially at the time of the economic slowdown.

Strike hits TV channels' revenue

Strike hits TV channels' revenue

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2008

The FWICE says its 35,000 members will resume work immediately if their pay is raised. Of course, there are several other related demands such as a timebound payment of the shift wage, restricting shifts to 8 hours rather than the current 10-12 hours among others, says a senior FWICE executive. Meanwhile, channels are showing re-runs of old episodes. This has resulted in a drop of upto 55 per cent in their prime time viewership ratings, affecting ad revenue.

Ten firms in race for Deccan Chargers

Ten firms in race for Deccan Chargers

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2008

At least 10 firms, including a few media houses and some of the leading private equity funds, are said to be in the race to acquire a majority stake in Hyderabad's Deccan Chargers, the Indian Premier League cricket team currently owned by the Deccan Chronicle group.

Foreign airlines gain at domestic carriers' cost

Foreign airlines gain at domestic carriers' cost

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2008

By cutting international flights, Indian firms forefeit market share.

Travel agents refuse to levy transaction fee

Travel agents refuse to levy transaction fee

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2008

Most travel agents in India have refused to levy the transaction fees of Rs 350-10,000 on air passengers.

Slowdown takes its toll on airports upgrade...

Slowdown takes its toll on airports upgrade...

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2008

The terminal and airside development of as many as nine of the 16 non-metro airports, supposed to be completed by next month, has been delayed till next year. This included construction and expansion of terminal buildings, runways and taxiways, among other things.

ATF prices likely to fall by 16%

ATF prices likely to fall by 16%

Rediff.com   24 Oct 2008

Aviation industry experts expect the ATF prices to fall by 16 per cent in November, compared with the current month. This, they say, translates into bridging of nearly half the gap between the airlines' operational costs and total revenues.

Ministry takes first step towards DTH portability

Ministry takes first step towards DTH portability

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2008

This means once a DTH consumer buys a set-top box, he will be able to access the service of any service provider with technical changes in the box. The ministry of information and broadcasting has asked the Bureau of Indian Standards to draft norms for advanced DTH set-top box technology, including related to interoperability of the boxes.

Big TV to slash prices by over 40%

Big TV to slash prices by over 40%

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2008

Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG) is all set to begin a price war in the direct-to-home market by offering its connection about 43 per cent lower than any of the existing players. Big TV will offer its DTH service for Rs 1,490, while the lowest-priced connection is currently being offered by Dish TV at Rs 2,190, followed by Tata Sky at Rs 2,400.