The decision to allow 26 per cent FDI in print media is a good opportunity to bring in foreign capital and foreign technology in a sector that has on the whole stagnated for a while in the country.

It is the middle rung of press firms which will however be looking at FDI and these are the ones that will benefit Nandan Maluste Senior Vice-President Kotak Mahindra

However, the vast bulk of the Indian press will have to upgrade itself before it can be attractive enough for foreign investors. The attractive media groups are already well-capitalised and will not exactly be looking for foreign investment. There are a few firms in the middle rung, which will however be looking at FDI and these are the ones that will benefit.

In India, there are three categories of press firms - one, which are not trying to be commercial ventures, second which are out and out commercial, and the third, which is trying to strike a balance between the two. It is this third segment, which will garner the maximum FDI.

Since we already have allowed FDI in television and foreign magazines are already available freely in the country, 26 per cent FDI in newspapers is hardly going to corrupt our minds.

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