ITV

Category: People

  • Dish TV brings back Gaurav Goel to chart new growth path

    Dish TV brings back Gaurav Goel to chart new growth path

    NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at sharpening its strategic focus, Dish TV has reappointed Gaurav Goel as chief strategy officer and senior management personnel, effective July 4. The decision was signed off by the board in a meeting on 3 July, following a nod from the nomination and remuneration committee. The company informed the Bombay stock exchange of the development through a regulatory filing. 

    Goel, a member of the promoter group, is no stranger to the satellite TV giant. He previously played a pivotal role in streamlining operations and driving business strategy during his earlier stint. With a background in digital transformation and partnerships, he is now expected to power Dish TV’s next wave of evolution in the increasingly digital DTH battlefield.

    A graduate of the Daniels College of Business, University of Denver, Goel is known for his strategic foresight and analytical chops, qualities Dish TV will be betting on as it navigates a shifting media landscape.

    The board also noted the exit of Rajeev Kumar Dalmia from senior management, effective end of business 3 July, due to a change in contractual terms.

  • Bharti Airtel confirms it is discussing potential Tata Play DTH merger

    Bharti Airtel confirms it is discussing potential Tata Play DTH merger

    MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel has confirmed it is in discussions with the Tata group regarding a potential merger of their direct-to-home (DTH) operations. 

    In a brief statement, filed with the Bombay stock exchange, Bharti Airtel acknowledged that the two companies are in bilateral talks exploring the combination of Tata Play Ltd with Bharti Telemedia Ltd, a subsidiary of Airtel. The potential transaction would need to be structured in a manner “acceptable to all parties.”

    It however cautioned that discussions remain at an early stage, with no firm agreements reached.

    The clarification follows reports in mainstream media about an imminent “mega DTH merger” between the two business groups.

    If successful, the merger would create one of India’s largest DTH operators, potentially reshaping the country’s pay television landscape.

    Neither company has provided details regarding timeframes, valuation, or potential regulatory hurdles that would need to be addressed for the transaction to proceed.

  • What makes Harit Nagpal’s Adapt tome great to look at, not just read

    What makes Harit Nagpal’s Adapt tome great to look at, not just read

    MUMBAI: Just got my hands on Tata Play CEO Harit Nagpal’s tome Adapt – to Thrive, not just survive. I must say better late than never. It appears to be an amazing read. But a lot has been written about what we as managers can learn from his stories about challenges and how to overcome them.

    I don’t know if a lot has been written about how the book looks, that is, its striking art work and cover design. At least, I could not locate it despite a lot of deep google searches. 

    The cover design is by Westland (the publisher of the book) design head Saurabh Garge who has been behind some of the gee-whiz looks of books that it brings out. 

    To begin with, the visual metaphor Saurabh has used aligns seamlessly with the book’s exploration of how businesses must evolve to thrive in dynamic environments.

    A large part of the cover is dominated by a curled tail of a chameleon, a reptile renowned for its adaptative capabilities. The animal’s tail has a myriad of colours showing its ability to change quickly (probably in micro-seconds) depending on its environment and the threat to its survival and thriving. The design employs a clean and minimalist aesthetic, ensuring that the chameleon remains the focal point, thereby reinforcing the book’s message of strategic adaptation.

    Similarly, corporations too have to be agile and quick to adapt to the crazily-spinning almost-out-of-control and ever-changing dynamic environment. 
    Harit Nagpal

    Also, the color scheme of the book title from cool colour like the blue green to the warmer yellows and oranges to the hot red clearly elucidates the cycle that organisations need to go through from start up to maturity wherein sales become red hot. And they also become noticeable. The same colour gradient has been followed at the back of the book and even in the spine with the title now going clean white. 

    Overall, the cover design is both visually appealing and thematically resonant, effectively conveying the book’s focus on the importance of adaptability in achieving business success.

    (Adapt – To Thrive, Not just Survive by Harit Nagpal, pp 213, publisher Westland  Books, price Rs 599. To buy the book click here)

  • Malaysian media baron Ananda Krishnan passes on

    Malaysian media baron Ananda Krishnan passes on

    MUMBAI: Another media baron passes into the great beyond. Malayasian billionaire Ananda Krishnan who set up the successful pay TV platform Astro in Malaysia  and established satellite operator Measat passed away on 28 November at  the age of 86.  

    Ananda was known to be close to Mahathir Mohamad who was Malaysia’s prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and 2018 to 2020. He persuaded him to build the famed Petronas twin towers in Kuala Lumpur.

    Ananda was the founder and chairman of Usaha Tegas, as well as the founder of Yu Cai Foundation. He also helped transform telecom firm Maxis into one of the largest operators in the country. He helped finance Bob Geldof’s  Live Aid concert in the eighties. He  was ranked Malaysia’s sixth-richest person and 671 wealthiest person globally in 2024, with an estimated net worth of $5.1 billion, according to  Forbes.  

    In India, Ananda unsuccessfully  invested an estimated $7 billion to set up telco Aircel which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2018.

    Ananda had three children, including his only son, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo who is a Buddhist monk.

    May he Rest in Peace!

    Astro Malaysia made the following post on its website:

    Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad (Astro) mourns the loss of our shareholder, Ananda Krishnan Tatparanandam, on 28 November 2024, whose unparalleled contributions shaped the landscape of Malaysia’s media, telecommunications, and entertainment industries.

    Group Chief Executive Officer Euan Daryl Smith expressed profound sorrow on behalf of Astro, stating: “Mr Ananda Krishnan’s vision went beyond creating a company; he created a purpose. Through Astro, he touched lives—by providing jobs, nurturing talent, and fostering a shared sense of joy through the power of entertainment. His enduring commitment to excellence and humanity will continue to inspire us as we carry forward his legacy. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this time of loss.”

    We join the nation in honoring a remarkable individual whose contributions will forever be etched in Malaysia’s history. Our deepest condolences go out to the family during this difficult time.

    We humbly request that the family’s privacy be respected as they mourn their loss.”

     

    (Pix courtesy Scott Jordan)

  • Dish TV to get new CFO from 1 October

    Dish TV to get new CFO from 1 October

    MUMBAI: Dish TV India is going to have a new chief financial officer (CFO) come 1 October 2024. Rajeev K Dalmia who is currently holding the post will vacate it on 30 September following his superannuation and will cease to be a key managerial personnel of the DTH operator.

    Replacing him is Amit Kumar Verma with effect from 1 October 2024.  This was decided by the Dish TV board on 18 September.

    It may be recalled that there was a change in the directors of Dish TV earlier this month at the AGM when the appointment of two independent directors Garima Bharadwaj and Azeezuddin Mohammad was not approved by the company’s members. They were immediately replaced by Amit Singhal and Parag Agarawal. Additionally, CEO Manoj Dobhal was also reappointed as a director at Dish TV. 
     

  • Dish TV’s Jawahar Lal Goel resigns from the board

    Dish TV’s Jawahar Lal Goel resigns from the board

    MUMBAI: Dish TV, the DTH service provider has announced that director Jawahar Lal Goel has resigned from the board of the company. “Jawahar Lal Goel, Director…. has tendered his resignation from the company’s board of directors and committee/s thereof with effect from the close of business hours of September 19, 2022,” Dish TV informed in a regulatory filing.

    He is no longer the chairman of the company. Goel will vacate his position at the upcoming company’s AGM on 26 September, 2022.

    After the announcement, the share price rose by 10 per cent and hit the upper circuit.

    In June, over 75 per cent of shareholders voted against the reappointment of Goel as board’s managing director at the company’s extraordinary general meeting. After it happened, Goel had agreed to resign as Dish TV chairman ahead of the AGM.

    Yes Bank holds around 25 per cent stake in the company. It had been pushing for a board reconstitution and wanted the promoter family led by Goel to be removed. Yes Bank had cited corporate governance issues and Goel stepped down after engaging in a legal battle for a long time with Yes Bank.

    Earlier this month, Dish TV had agreed to appoint three of the seven independent directors, which were proposed by Yes Bank.

    The Goels own a six per cent stake in the company. They lost control over the company after banks seized the promoter’s pledged shares.

  • Somani to lead Shemaroo’s DTH business

    Somani to lead Shemaroo’s DTH business

    MUMBAI: Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd, one of the leading content houses appoints Subhash Somani to head DTH business for the company. Prior to joining Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd, he was working for Videocon d2h as Senior Manager – Content. In Shemaroo Entertainment, he will be responsible for driving the scale of business to next level. He will be primarily looking into Content Strategy, Business Development & Revenue. Also, he will lead & manage strategic partnerships with broadcasters/studios and will be playing key role in new initiatives & launches.

    Somani has over seven years of experience in diverse roles in Media & Entertainment sector. In his last tenure with Videocon d2h, he was primarily involved in content acquisition and launch of new value added services (VAS) for d2h platform.

    Shemaroo director Hiren Gada said “Subhash is a part of the DTH industry since its nascent stage and has deep understanding of the market. With an addition of new perspective and experience in the team, we believe, we will be able to leverage the platform to the fullest.”

    Somani shared his thoughts, “Now when Shemaroo is expanding its DTH services, we plan to leverage the trust value it has created in the partners and consumers. We are at cusp of opportunities for DTH business in the country and with a company that has one of the largest content libraries, I believe sky is the limit.”

    Shemaroo recently forayed into DTH business and today stands among the leading players in the industry. The company has tied up with all the DTH players including Tata Sky, Airtel Digital, Videocon d2h and Dish TV. Shemaroo offers a bouquet of VAS services on all the major DTH platforms covering multiple genres. These offerings range from devotional services like iDevotion and Sajda to special service tailored to fulfill the needs of bollywood buffs like Miniplex and Sadabahar Hits. It also includes regional services like Relamchhel and Punjabi Tadka.

  • Tata Sky hires Arun Unni as senior vice president – content

    Tata Sky hires Arun Unni as senior vice president – content

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky has roped in Arun Unni as senior vice president – content. 

    Unni steps into the shoes on Mukund Sharma, who recently resigned to join Lukup Media.

    Unni has previously been a consultant with 14 years of experience in strategy development and operational improvement across B2C and B2B companies. 

    A source close to the development tells Indiantelevision.com that Unni will be reporting to Tata Sky chief content and business development officer Paolo Matteo Agostinelli. 

    “Arun has already joined the company and he will be heading content acquisition and strategy at Tata Sky,” the source added.

    Deeply passionate about TV and media, Unni is an avid follower of content and distribution models globally. A Civil engineer from IIT Mumbai and an IIM – Ahmedabad pass out, he is an early adopter of nearly all types of content distribution hardware – Tata Sky HD DVR, Chromecast, Xbox, Media players, Mobile apps etc. His earlier work stints have been with A.T. Kearney, KPMG and Arthur Andersen India.

  • Tata Sky hires Arun Unni as senior vice president – content

    Tata Sky hires Arun Unni as senior vice president – content

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky has roped in Arun Unni as senior vice president – content. 

    Unni steps into the shoes on Mukund Sharma, who recently resigned to join Lukup Media.

    Unni has previously been a consultant with 14 years of experience in strategy development and operational improvement across B2C and B2B companies. 

    A source close to the development tells Indiantelevision.com that Unni will be reporting to Tata Sky chief content and business development officer Paolo Matteo Agostinelli. 

    “Arun has already joined the company and he will be heading content acquisition and strategy at Tata Sky,” the source added.

    Deeply passionate about TV and media, Unni is an avid follower of content and distribution models globally. A Civil engineer from IIT Mumbai and an IIM – Ahmedabad pass out, he is an early adopter of nearly all types of content distribution hardware – Tata Sky HD DVR, Chromecast, Xbox, Media players, Mobile apps etc. His earlier work stints have been with A.T. Kearney, KPMG and Arthur Andersen India.

  • Videocon d2h ropes in Himanshu Dhoreliya as content head

    Videocon d2h ropes in Himanshu Dhoreliya as content head

    MUMBAI: Videocon d2h has appointed Himanshu Dhoreliya as content head. Reporting to CEO Anil Khera, he will be based in Videocon d2h’s Mumbai headquarters. 

    Himanshu Dhoreliya comes to Videocon d2h with an impressive track record and more than a decade of experience in content development, content management and channel distribution for leading media and entertainment companies.  

     

    Videocon d2h executive chairman Saurabh Dhoot said, “The expertise that Himanshu Dhoreliya brings to the table will definitely add to and strengthen our content management bandwidth. This is an especially vital role & I believe that with his extensive experience & leadership, he will bring the best for brand Videocon d2h.”

     

    Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera dded, “We are very pleased to welcome Himanshu Dhoreliya as content head, a role that will benefit greatly from his intuitive knowledge of the DTH industry. We are hopeful that he will help lead Videocon d2h in developing innovative content acquisition strategies while maximizing the use of our services to fulfil the needs of our valued customers – all, of course, keeping in sync with Videocon d2h’s goal of being the best in the industry.” 

     

    Dhoreliya former CEO and co-founder of TelevisionPost.com, has held positions with MSM Discovery Private Limited, the joint venture broadcast distribution company owned by Multi Screen Media and Discovery Networks, as well as ESPN Software.