Acche Din For Print Media: I&B Ministry Hikes Advertisement Rates By 25 Per Cent

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B Ministry) has increased the advertisement rates for the print media by 25 per cent, Television Post reports.

This hike is over and above the current rate structure for advertisements in newspapers given by the Bureau of Outreach and Communication (formerly Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity).

The decision, which came in effect on Tuesday (8 January) is valid for three years. In 2013, there was a hike of 19 per cent over and above the rates set in 2010. The change is in line with the recommendation of the 8th Rate Structure Committee.

The committee which composed of I&B members had considered several factors like the increased prices of newspaper print, processing charges as well as various factors which contribute in calculating advertisement rates.

The latest decision comes as good news especially to the medium and small newspapers, of which many ply in regional and vernacular languages.

The government, in the ongoing fiscal year until 7 December 2018, had spent Rs 244.32 crore on print and Rs 229.25 crore on audio-visual media, totalling Rs 527.96 crore. Further, the government also spent Rs 208.55 crore on outdoor publicity (OP).