Pune: battle ahead

IN Media Watch Briefs | 21/11/2010

Maharashtra Times, the Marathi newspaper from the Times of India stable is being launched in Pune. To staff it all rival papers including the leader Sakaal, have been raided. No launch date set but it is considered imminent given the major marketing offensive already launched. Talk of taking price wars to a new level: four months' supply of the daily is being offered at just Rs 11. That works out to Rs. 2.75 per month while in Mumbai the MT cover price is Rs 2.50 on weekdays and Rs 3 on Sundays. This is as low as it can get unless it is given away free. As of now, a copy of the newspaper is being delivered free with the Times to entice readers. Pune's Marathi readership is now served by Sakaal, Lokmat and Pudhari.

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Amazon resisting voluntary censorship

The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.

Let the games begin

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