India

DNPA Conclave 2026 Leaders from media, technology, and policy convened on Thursday to chart the future of journalism in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, at the DNPA Conclave 2026. Held under the theme “Rewriting the Playbook for a Resilient Digital Future,” the event highlighted conversations around trust, innovation, artificial intelligence, regulation, and sustainable growth, setting the stage for deeper debates on the structural challenges facing the industry.During the final panel discussion of the event titled “Getting the Indian User to Pay,” executives from media, technology, and consumer platforms converged on a sobering reality: while subscriptions are widely seen as one of industry’s long-term goal, the path to scale remains complex. I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Sounds Big Alert On Cybercrime, Pushes Fair Revenue For Creators Avinash Mudaliar, CEO of OTTPLAY, framed the struggle as fundamentally behavioural. Drawing a sharp contrast between news and streaming platforms, he argued that the gap is less technological and more psychological. “OTTs solve for dopamine, news solves for cortisol,” Mudaliar observed, suggesting that entertainment platforms are designed around reward cycles. “You’re are not literally craving attention; we are craving retention. That’s the bus we seem to be missing.”He noted that OTT platforms simplify sampling for users. “News makes sampling so tough. If you read two articles, the third asks you to pay. OTT has it simple — sample for a month, watch multiple episodes, then decide whether to stay.”Mudaliar also pushed back against the idea that video-led news subscriptions alone could unlock growth, citing the ad-supported success of platforms like YouTube. “News OTT won’t work unless you approach it differently — with focus on the story, not just information.”From a consumer-platform lens, Anurag P, VP Product at Swiggy, shared lessons from SwiggyOne’s subscription model. “We’re not selling free deliveries; we’re selling mental bandwidth to users,” he said, emphasising the importance of reducing user friction.“How do you make the whole process friction-free?” he explained was the idea on his mind, adding that publishers must identify where friction emerges in news too, citing examples like rigid paywalls or overwhelming content abundance.Subscriptions, the panel agreed, also need flexibility. Mudaliar highlighted experiments with pause features. “We introduced a pause. If you’ve taken a yearly subscription but want to pause, you can. It’s about being truthful to users.”With Neeraj Sharma, Managing Director at Accenture, the conversation shifted a little, offering a pragmatic view on enterprise-scale subscription opportunities. “The simple answer is no,” he said when asked about the viability of B2B news subscriptions in India. “For any enterprise to invest widely, you need very unique content or depth. The same news is available everywhere.”To build paying communities, Sharma argued, publishers must go deeper rather than wider. “Build depth content — like a community — with real-world opportunities and unique conversations. That’s when subscriptions might sell.”Jaideep Karnik, Head of Digital and Editor at Amar Ujala, echoed the structural challenge. “Subscriptions are not working, really,” he admitted, pointing to the historical economics of Indian news.“When people were paying for news, only a small fraction came from readers. The majority came from advertisers. We have not made people used to paying for news.”Karnik underlined the behavioural hurdle: “If even one source of news is free, people will not pay. It is also about habit. This cannot change in one day.”As the discussion went on, panellists outlined what they believed could realistically persuade Indian users to open their wallets.Jaideep Karnik stressed that news alone may not be enough to drive payment behaviour. “People will not pay for news, but for experience. What will you give? Bundle,” he said, pointing to the need for publishers to rethink value creation.Neeraj Sharma argued that depth, not volume, could unlock subscription potential. “Depth,” he said, emphasising the importance of specialised, high-value content and community-led offerings.Avinash Mudaliar highlighted accessibility as a decisive factor. “Ease of access,” he noted.From a product standpoint, Anurag P offered a more personal view, pointing to the kind of utility-driven experience that could resonate with users. “I would pay for something that gives me the most important news in three minutes every morning, without clutter,” he said, which pointed to the viability in personalisation.The discussion ultimately signalled that success may depend less on rigid paywalls alone and more on psychology, personalisation, and designing experiences users genuinely value.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’We Do See A Role, But..’: India Backs Trump’s Gaza Plan As Modi, Israel PM Discuss US-Iran Conflict‘India Essential To Middle East Future’: Israeli Prez Herzog Tells PM Modi, Lauds Economic Growth’UPI Will Be Used In Israel’: PM Modi After Key Meet With Netanyahu, Pushes India-Israel FTAI&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Sounds Big Alert On Cybercrime, Pushes Fair Revenue For CreatorsJamaat Chief Exposes Political Faultline In Bangladesh, Backs Yunus After President’s Big Charge’Owe India A Great Lot Of Debt’: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Hails PM Modi During Joint StatementFrom Rajasthan to Assam: India is Building Highway Airstrips for Modern Warfare’Heads Must Roll’: Centre Says Sorry Over NCERT Chapter, Supreme Court Demands AccountabilityUmmah Politics Erupts As Pakistan Targets Israel’s Hexagon Alliance Plan Naming India A Key AllyIndian Army Showcases Combat Power Near India-Pak Border123PhotostoriesWorld’s 8 most stressful cities to live in and their biggest pressure pointsNot just the clothes! 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Vamsikrishna1 month ago04 mins mins

$DNPA Conclave 2026 Leaders from media, technology, and policy convened on Thursday to chart the future of journalism in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, at the DNPA Conclave 2026. Held under the theme “Rewriting the Playbook for a Resilient Digital Future,” the event highlighted conversations around trust, innovation, artificial intelligence, regulation, and sustainable growth, setting the stage for deeper debates on the structural challenges facing the industry.During the final panel discussion of the event titled “Getting the Indian User to Pay,” executives from media, technology, and consumer platforms converged on a sobering reality: while subscriptions are widely seen as one of industry’s long-term goal, the path to scale remains complex. I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Sounds Big Alert On Cybercrime, Pushes Fair Revenue For Creators Avinash Mudaliar, CEO of OTTPLAY, framed the struggle as fundamentally behavioural. Drawing a sharp contrast between news and streaming platforms, he argued that the gap is less technological and more psychological. “OTTs solve for dopamine, news solves for cortisol,” Mudaliar observed, suggesting that entertainment platforms are designed around reward cycles. “You’re are not literally craving attention; we are craving retention. That’s the bus we seem to be missing.”He noted that OTT platforms simplify sampling for users. “News makes sampling so tough. If you read two articles, the third asks you to pay. OTT has it simple — sample for a month, watch multiple episodes, then decide whether to stay.”Mudaliar also pushed back against the idea that video-led news subscriptions alone could unlock growth, citing the ad-supported success of platforms like YouTube. “News OTT won’t work unless you approach it differently — with focus on the story, not just information.”From a consumer-platform lens, Anurag P, VP Product at Swiggy, shared lessons from SwiggyOne’s subscription model. “We’re not selling free deliveries; we’re selling mental bandwidth to users,” he said, emphasising the importance of reducing user friction.“How do you make the whole process friction-free?” he explained was the idea on his mind, adding that publishers must identify where friction emerges in news too, citing examples like rigid paywalls or overwhelming content abundance.Subscriptions, the panel agreed, also need flexibility. Mudaliar highlighted experiments with pause features. “We introduced a pause. If you’ve taken a yearly subscription but want to pause, you can. It’s about being truthful to users.”With Neeraj Sharma, Managing Director at Accenture, the conversation shifted a little, offering a pragmatic view on enterprise-scale subscription opportunities. “The simple answer is no,” he said when asked about the viability of B2B news subscriptions in India. “For any enterprise to invest widely, you need very unique content or depth. The same news is available everywhere.”To build paying communities, Sharma argued, publishers must go deeper rather than wider. “Build depth content — like a community — with real-world opportunities and unique conversations. That’s when subscriptions might sell.”Jaideep Karnik, Head of Digital and Editor at Amar Ujala, echoed the structural challenge. “Subscriptions are not working, really,” he admitted, pointing to the historical economics of Indian news.“When people were paying for news, only a small fraction came from readers. The majority came from advertisers. We have not made people used to paying for news.”Karnik underlined the behavioural hurdle: “If even one source of news is free, people will not pay. It is also about habit. This cannot change in one day.”As the discussion went on, panellists outlined what they believed could realistically persuade Indian users to open their wallets.Jaideep Karnik stressed that news alone may not be enough to drive payment behaviour. “People will not pay for news, but for experience. What will you give? Bundle,” he said, pointing to the need for publishers to rethink value creation.Neeraj Sharma argued that depth, not volume, could unlock subscription potential. “Depth,” he said, emphasising the importance of specialised, high-value content and community-led offerings.Avinash Mudaliar highlighted accessibility as a decisive factor. “Ease of access,” he noted.From a product standpoint, Anurag P offered a more personal view, pointing to the kind of utility-driven experience that could resonate with users. “I would pay for something that gives me the most important news in three minutes every morning, without clutter,” he said, which pointed to the viability in personalisation.The discussion ultimately signalled that success may depend less on rigid paywalls alone and more on psychology, personalisation, and designing experiences users genuinely value.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’We Do See A Role, But..’: India Backs Trump’s Gaza Plan As Modi, Israel PM Discuss US-Iran Conflict‘India Essential To Middle East Future’: Israeli Prez Herzog Tells PM Modi, Lauds Economic Growth’UPI Will Be Used In Israel’: PM Modi After Key Meet With Netanyahu, Pushes India-Israel FTAI&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Sounds Big Alert On Cybercrime, Pushes Fair Revenue For CreatorsJamaat Chief Exposes Political Faultline In Bangladesh, Backs Yunus After President’s Big Charge’Owe India A Great Lot Of Debt’: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Hails PM Modi During Joint StatementFrom Rajasthan to Assam: India is Building Highway Airstrips for Modern Warfare’Heads Must Roll’: Centre Says Sorry Over NCERT Chapter, Supreme Court Demands AccountabilityUmmah Politics Erupts As Pakistan Targets Israel’s Hexagon Alliance Plan Naming India A Key AllyIndian Army Showcases Combat Power Near India-Pak Border123PhotostoriesWorld’s 8 most stressful cities to live in and their biggest pressure pointsNot just the clothes! Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda’s heritage wedding jewellery has the internet talking1500 kg fake paneer and mawa seized in Ghaziabad: 8 smart alternatives for popular dishes for the Holi celebrationWhat sets luxury cars apart? 5 features you won’t find in economy modelsWalking at 12-3-30 for weight loss: Can this low-impact routine help you lose fat effectively?From ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Dhurandhar’ to ‘Toxic’ and ‘King’: Looking at 2026’s MOST EXPENSIVE films in BollywoodHow to make Amritsari Aloo Wadi Ki Sabzi for dinnerDipika Kakar breaks down after meeting her mother in-law in the hospital; gets discharged after her cyst removal surgeryWorld’s top 10 tourism economies ranked, India on the listVijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna wedding: Revisiting the ‘Virosh’ love story in pictures123Hot PicksNew Indian Railways reformsSaudi poultry import banGold rate todayBihar wedding shootIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingNFL Trade NewsJason KelceBrittany MahomesHow to get Iron Man Skin in FortniteBank Holidays in MarchStephen Curry WifeSaudi Arabia Poultry BansKamal Maula Mosque DisputeBhojshala Madhya PradeshSalman Agha Wife$

DNPA Conclave 2026: Why getting Indian users to pay for news remains a tough sell

Leaders from media, technology, and policy convened on Thursday to chart the future of journalism in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, at the DNPA Conclave 2026. Held under the theme “Rewriting the Playbook for a Resilient Digital Future,” the event highlighted conversations around trust, innovation, artificial intelligence, regulation, and sustainable growth, setting the stage for deeper debates on the structural challenges facing the industry.During the final panel discussion of the event titled “Getting the Indian User to Pay,” executives from media, technology, and consumer platforms converged on a sobering reality: while subscriptions are widely seen as one of industry’s long-term goal, the path to scale remains complex.

I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Sounds Big Alert On Cybercrime, Pushes Fair Revenue For Creators

Avinash Mudaliar, CEO of OTTPLAY, framed the struggle as fundamentally behavioural. Drawing a sharp contrast between news and streaming platforms, he argued that the gap is less technological and more psychological. “OTTs solve for dopamine, news solves for cortisol,” Mudaliar observed, suggesting that entertainment platforms are designed around reward cycles. “You’re are not literally craving attention; we are craving retention. That’s the bus we seem to be missing.”He noted that OTT platforms simplify sampling for users. “News makes sampling so tough. If you read two articles, the third asks you to pay. OTT has it simple — sample for a month, watch multiple episodes, then decide whether to stay.”Mudaliar also pushed back against the idea that video-led news subscriptions alone could unlock growth, citing the ad-supported success of platforms like YouTube. “News OTT won’t work unless you approach it differently — with focus on the story, not just information.”From a consumer-platform lens, Anurag P, VP Product at Swiggy, shared lessons from SwiggyOne’s subscription model. “We’re not selling free deliveries; we’re selling mental bandwidth to users,” he said, emphasising the importance of reducing user friction.“How do you make the whole process friction-free?” he explained was the idea on his mind, adding that publishers must identify where friction emerges in news too, citing examples like rigid paywalls or overwhelming content abundance.Subscriptions, the panel agreed, also need flexibility. Mudaliar highlighted experiments with pause features. “We introduced a pause. If you’ve taken a yearly subscription but want to pause, you can. It’s about being truthful to users.”With Neeraj Sharma, Managing Director at Accenture, the conversation shifted a little, offering a pragmatic view on enterprise-scale subscription opportunities. “The simple answer is no,” he said when asked about the viability of B2B news subscriptions in India. “For any enterprise to invest widely, you need very unique content or depth. The same news is available everywhere.”To build paying communities, Sharma argued, publishers must go deeper rather than wider. “Build depth content — like a community — with real-world opportunities and unique conversations. That’s when subscriptions might sell.”Jaideep Karnik, Head of Digital and Editor at Amar Ujala, echoed the structural challenge. “Subscriptions are not working, really,” he admitted, pointing to the historical economics of Indian news.“When people were paying for news, only a small fraction came from readers. The majority came from advertisers. We have not made people used to paying for news.”Karnik underlined the behavioural hurdle: “If even one source of news is free, people will not pay. It is also about habit. This cannot change in one day.”As the discussion went on, panellists outlined what they believed could realistically persuade Indian users to open their wallets.Jaideep Karnik stressed that news alone may not be enough to drive payment behaviour. “People will not pay for news, but for experience. What will you give? Bundle,” he said, pointing to the need for publishers to rethink value creation.Neeraj Sharma argued that depth, not volume, could unlock subscription potential. “Depth,” he said, emphasising the importance of specialised, high-value content and community-led offerings.Avinash Mudaliar highlighted accessibility as a decisive factor. “Ease of access,” he noted.From a product standpoint, Anurag P offered a more personal view, pointing to the kind of utility-driven experience that could resonate with users. “I would pay for something that gives me the most important news in three minutes every morning, without clutter,” he said, which pointed to the viability in personalisation.The discussion ultimately signalled that success may depend less on rigid paywalls alone and more on psychology, personalisation, and designing experiences users genuinely value.