Indian Magazine Congress 2006: Separate DAVP rates for newspapers and magazines soon

The Indian Magazine Congress commenced in the Capital on October 30, 2006 with I&B Minister P R Das Munsi making some important announcements regarding the magazine industry. Some of the changes that can be expected in the coming year include separate DAVP rates for newspapers and magazines after March 31, 2007, liberalisation of RNI rules, modifications in the PIB Act, and formation of a self regulatory body to check media content, among others.

In his opening address, Das Munsi observed that reach of the press in rural India had grown more than that in urban India, there had been growth of the rural intelligentia that needed to be taken note of.

He said that that the Print Media Policy of 1955 had undergone changes in 2002 and then in 2005. Currently, the Policy of 2005 was being observed, but, he said, the Government was open to further modifications if it benefited the industry.

A major announcement the Minister made was that after March 31, 2007, the DAVP pricing mechanism for newspapers and magazines would be made separate. This was in response to Indian Today Group’s Aroon Purie’s comment that Indian magazines were treated like a step child, where the newspaper was the stronger lobby and the magazine industry’s voice was somewhat drowned out.

Das Munsi also admitted that the PIB Act in its current form was not helpful and needed to be changed. “There have been cases of misuse,” he said. He further announced that liberalisation of RNI rules was on the anvil. Admitting that the current application processing system was cumbersome, the Minister said that new norms would be set up in 2007 to address this issue.