ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Aniruddha Basu named national head of ABP One, driving growth strategy

    Aniruddha Basu named national head of ABP One, driving growth strategy

    MUMBAI: ABP Group, one of India’s most respected media conglomerates, has elevated Aniruddha Basu as national head of ABP One, its integrated media solutions arm. The move signals the group’s sharpened focus on delivering high-impact, client-centric campaigns in an increasingly competitive media landscape.

    With over a decade of experience at ABP, Basu brings a nuanced understanding of advertiser expectations, content innovation, and regional market dynamics. In his new role, he will lead strategic direction and business growth for ABP One, which acts as a bridge between brands and audiences by offering a suite of services including creative content, data-led media strategy, and omnichannel execution.

    The group credits Basu with playing a pivotal role in building ABP One into a trusted partner for national and regional marketers alike. He is widely acknowledged for his collaborative leadership style and ability to translate business objectives into engaging, measurable campaigns that stand out in a cluttered media environment.

    Industry observers say Basu’s elevation reflects a broader trend within Indian legacy media houses to empower leaders who can navigate changing client needs, leverage first-party data, and build long-term value through integrated brand experiences.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery saddles up for Tour de France with a high-tech

    Warner Bros. Discovery saddles up for Tour de France with a high-tech

    MUMBAI: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is shifting gears for this year’s Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, promising wall-to-wall coverage powered by tech, talent and turbo-charged storytelling.

    Starting 5 July, the world’s most iconic cycling race will stream live across every stage on WBD’s streaming services – Max, HBO Max and discovery+ – alongside traditional coverage on Eurosport and TNT Sports. That’s 3,320 km of pedal-powered drama, served in 20 languages across Europe and Asia, with exclusive rights in 44 territories.

    And the peloton doesn’t stop there. The women’s race – the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift — gears up with nine stages and 1,165 km of action, beginning 26 July. It marks the longest race yet on the UCI Women’s World Tour.

    Joining the broadcast caravan is recently retired French cycling legend Romain Bardet. Swapping saddle for mic, Bardet will ride alongside the action as WBD’s newest motorbike reporter for stages 11 to 15. “I’m throwing myself into the unknown,” he said, “but I’ve got the experience and team to bring new insight to fans.”

    He’s part of an all-star commentary squad, including Tour de France veterans Jens Voigt, Adam Blythe, Alberto Contador, and studio anchors Orla Chennaoui, Robbie McEwen, and Ashleigh Wilmot, among others.

    For cycling purists and super fans, WBD is rolling out a game-changer: a new quad screen feature. It lets viewers track breakaways, the peloton and the grupetto simultaneously using real-time footage from motorbikes, drones, and helicopters. It’s tactical, immersive, and perfect for armchair analysts.

    Also back in action is WBD’s award-winning Curve studio with its arsenal of mixed reality tools — think virtual wind tunnels, inclinometers for brutal climbs, and even a digital team bus to unpack race strategies in forensic detail.

    And just in case fans need more than live races, there’s Cycling Africa – The Rise of African Pro Cycling debuting 20 July. The original film features stars like Chris Froome, Biniam Girmay and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio ahead of the historic 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda.

    Ad dollars are racing too, with record commercial investments from brands including Zwift, Whoop, Škoda, Lidl and Velux. Expect bespoke campaigns and in-broadcast storytelling to match the race’s pace.

    With the men’s field headlined by Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel, and the women’s peloton packed with firepower from Kasia Niewiadoma to Demi Vollering, this year’s Tour is shaping up to be an all-out sprint for cycling supremacy.

    In the saddle or on screen, WBD is making sure fans don’t miss a turn of the wheel.

  • Kamali roars onto screens as 3,000 kids chant Shivstuti in record-setting launch

    Kamali roars onto screens as 3,000 kids chant Shivstuti in record-setting launch

    MUMBAI: Zee Marathi pulled off a launch fit for a legend with its new show Kamali, rallying over 3,000 schoolchildren in Thane for a mass chanting of the sacred Shivstuti, a tribute to Maharashtra’s iconic warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The thunderous homage, led by the show’s protagonist Kamali (played by Vijaya Babar), wasn’t just devotional; it was historical. The event has earned a proud place in the World Records Book of India.

    Held on 28 June at the Saraswati Mandir Trust Ground, the high-decibel spectacle began at 10:30 AM and turned into a moving celebration of Marathi pride and cultural legacy. Kamali’s lead cast – Vijaya Babar, Ketaki Kulkarni (Anika), and Nikhil Damle (Rishi) — joined the children in chanting, bringing added star power to a moment steeped in emotion and grandeur.

    The energy was electric. As chants soared and saffron flags fluttered, Zee Marathi received a formal certificate and medal for the record-breaking feat — a public relations dream and a symbolic launchpad for a show steeped in valor, tradition, and female strength.

    With Kamali, Zee Marathi is clearly not here to tiptoe. It’s charging in, script in one hand and sword in the other.

  • Maharashtra’s leaders and changemakers come together for growth agenda

    Maharashtra’s leaders and changemakers come together for growth agenda

    MUMBAI: From politics to pop culture, policy to pop-up enterprises Maharashtra’s growth story got a turbocharged rewrite at News18 Lokmat’s Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 conclave. In a state that rarely slows down, News18 Lokmat’s Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 brought the brakes to the rhetoric and the spotlight to substance. Held in Mumbai, the high-octane conclave brought together an eclectic mix of ministers, entrepreneurs, artists, and policy wonks to discuss what it’ll take to future-proof the state’s prosperity.

    The day kicked off with a sharp, youth-forward panel on the “Future of Maharashtra”, where young leaders like Meghana Bordikar, Varun Sardesai, Rohini Khadse, Shaina NC, and Sangram Kote Patil discussed sustainability, policy innovation, and the missing script of youth engagement. The verdict? Maharashtra’s tomorrow needs fresh ideas, and fresher faces at the helm.

    Aaditya Thackeray turned the political lens inward in a session on the so-called “Maharashtra Pattern of Politics”. Equal parts legacy and local aspiration, his take blended ideology with youth participation underscoring transparency and environmental consciousness as essentials, not options.

    Politics got punchier in a high-decibel discussion featuring Jitendra Awhad, Girish Mahajan, Uday Samant, Imtiyaz Jaleel, Sandeep Deshpande, and Anil Parab. Even as they sparred across party lines, there was one common goal: Maharashtra’s progress must trump political posturing.

    In the economic ring, industry bigwigs like Hemant Rathi, Girish Chitale, Lalit Gandhi, and economist Ajit Ranade headlined “Udhyemi Maharashtra”, championing entrepreneurship and industrial investment as the state’s twin growth engines. The message was clear start-ups and scale-ups are Maharashtra’s real capital.

    Culture took a graceful turn in “Kalapatadi Maharashtra”, with cinema and theatre stalwarts Mahesh Manjrekar, Kedar Shinde, Om Raut, and Bharat Jadhav waxing lyrical about the soft power of storytelling and the soul of Marathi identity.

    Deputy CM Eknath Shinde outlined priorities across infrastructure, rural outreach, and welfare, while chief minister Devendra Fadnavis wrapped up the conclave with a blueprint for a globally competitive and resilient Maharashtra, fuelled by economic reforms and mega infrastructure plans.

    Powered by MIT Design Technology – Pune and Reliance Industries Ltd, with support from MIDC, Sandip University, Rotomag Solar Pump, Pimpri Chinchwad University, LIC Housing Finance Ltd, and Mahagenco, the conclave was anything but a talking shop.

    With meaningful dialogue, sharp provocations, and a collective vision, Samruddha Maharashtra 2025 wasn’t just another networking event, it was a real-time draft of the state’s next growth chapter. Or as one panellist quipped, “Less gyan, more game plan.”
     

  • Gill’s edge and streaming surge put JioHotstar in Test match mode

    Gill’s edge and streaming surge put JioHotstar in Test match mode

    MUMBAI: When India stepped out at Headingley with Shubman Gill at the helm, it wasn’t just a fresh chapter in Test cricket, it was a record-breaking moment on screen too. The first Test of the India-England series didn’t just set the WTC 2025–27 cycle in motion; it also bowled over the digital scoreboard on JioHotstar.

    With 89.1 million viewers and a staggering 13.7 billion minutes of watch-time, the opening Test became the highest-ever reached red-ball match on the platform. Five-language coverage (English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) and exclusive content like the behind-the-scenes series Follow The Blues ensured fans were hooked well beyond the boundary.

    JioHotstar added a cheeky twist with a promo featuring Rohit Sharma giving out “Test tips,” while the ‘When India Challenged the Crown’ segment took fans on a nostalgia trip through India’s legacy in England.

    As India’s red-ball reboot gathers steam, the streaming numbers suggest the audience is already on board. The second Test begins 2 July in Birmingham, with four more matches to potentially rewrite more records.

    In parallel, the WTC Final 2025 where South Africa broke their ICC title drought by defeating Australia delivered knockout numbers of its own. It became the most-watched Non-India Test match ever on linear TV, logging 2.95 billion minutes and reaching 47 million viewers.

    On JioHotstar, it smashed another record with 41.4 million digital viewers, toppling even the 2023 India vs Australia final.

    From broadcast to broadband, Test cricket in 2025 is not just holding its ground, it’s thriving in technicolour. And with India’s new leadership making waves and streaming platforms like JioHotstar turning numbers into headlines, the future of long-format cricket seems anything but slow-paced.

  • Smashing debut for IOS as Tanvi Sharma joins athlete roster

    Smashing debut for IOS as Tanvi Sharma joins athlete roster

    MUMBAI: A new shuttle star is on the rise and IOS Sports and Entertainment is ready to back her all the way to the podium. The agency has signed 16-year-old badminton sensation Tanvi Sharma as an exclusive athlete, adding the Hoshiarpur-based prodigy to its elite roster that already includes names like Mirabai Chanu, Manika Batra, and Lovlina Borgohain.

    Fresh off her Super 300 US Open finals appearance, Tanvi brings more than just promise to the table. She’s already got a stack of medals: Silver at the Badminton Asia Youth Championships 2023, Gold at the 2024 Asia Team Championships, and an impressive Silver at the Senior Nationals last year where she held her own against India’s top adult talent.

    “Her work ethic and achievements at just 16 speak volumes,” said IOS Sports and Entertainment COO Rahul Trehan. “We see tremendous potential in her and are committed to supporting her rise in global badminton.”

    As part of the deal, Tanvi will receive comprehensive management and development support as she sharpens her game for bigger stages national and international.

    With a training base in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, and a dream to make it to the world’s biggest badminton arenas, Tanvi’s journey is only just beginning. But with IOS backing her, it’s clear she’s not just playing to participate, she’s in it to win.

    And if her medal count is anything to go by, it won’t be long before Tanvi Sharma becomes a household name in Indian sport.

  • NDTV India brings in new editorial trio to deepen ground reporting

    NDTV India brings in new editorial trio to deepen ground reporting

    MUMBAI: From Tiktok towns to tractor rallies NDTV India’s newsroom just got sharper, louder and closer to the ground. In a decisive move to recalibrate its editorial voice, NDTV India has announced the addition of three seasoned journalists Subhankar Mishra, Meenakshi Kandwal, and Malika Malhotra to its newsroom. The trio brings a dynamic mix of digital savvy, primetime polish, and fearless field reporting to a channel that’s realigning its compass to reflect Bharat’s heartbeat.

    Subhankar Mishra, with over 30 million followers across platforms, isn’t just a social media juggernaut, he’s one of Hindi journalism’s most recognisable digital-first reporters. Known for his consistent presence in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns, Subhankar reports from regions often ignored by mainstream media, turning hyperlocal issues into national conversations.

    Meenakshi Kandwal brings more than a decade of anchoring and field reporting experience. From live disaster coverage to investigative field reports, her work is defined by a rare blend of composure and clarity. With a firm grip on the facts and a steady on-air presence, Kandwal is poised to add both credibility and calm to the NDTV India desk.

    Malika Malhotra is the long-hauler of the lot. Whether it was the months-long farmers’ protests at Singhu or the environmental crisis in Joshimath, she’s proven that journalism isn’t just about breaking the news but staying with it long after the headlines fade. Her brand of journalism is patient, persistent and painfully relevant.

    NDTV CEO and editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal summed it up best saying, “Each of them brings something critical to the newsroom Subhankar’s digital-first strength, Meenakshi’s editorial steadiness, and Malika’s commitment to field reporting. They are not chasing headlines; they are building trust.”

    The appointments signal more than a staffing shuffle, it’s a deliberate editorial shift. NDTV India is increasingly aiming to serve what it calls the “changing India” with journalism rooted in credibility, consistency, and context, a rare breed in a time of manufactured noise.

    This move is part of a broader evolution at the network, as it sheds the soundbite syndrome and retools itself around deep reporting, trust-building and ground realities. From Twitter trends to tractor trails, NDTV India’s new trio looks ready to walk the talk.

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  • Kabaddi goes global with Rs 48 crore WSKL set for 2026 Dubai debut

    Kabaddi goes global with Rs 48 crore WSKL set for 2026 Dubai debut

    MUMBAI: From mud courts to the world stage Kabaddi is getting a passport stamp. SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd, the force behind the successful Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL), has announced the launch of the World Super Kabaddi League (WSKL), an international franchise-based kabaddi extravaganza set to kick off in February–March 2026 in Dubai.

    Touted as Kabaddi’s boldest global leap yet, WSKL has already received confirmations from 20 national federations, with 30 countries actively engaged in shaping the league. Backed by the International Kabaddi Federation and the South Asian Kabaddi Federation, WSKL aims to not only attract eyeballs across continents but also make a serious pitch for Olympic inclusion.

    The league’s format will feature eight franchise teams, with rosters mixing international stars and top Indian players. To match this global ambition, WSKL has committed a Rs 48 crore player purse in its debut season signalling both serious investment and serious intent.

    “With WSKL, the world becomes the playing field,” said SJ Uplift Kabaddi Pvt Ltd founder Sambhav Jain. “Our vision is Olympic-sized, we’re here not just to entertain, but to evolve the sport into a global property that thrives year-round, not just seasonally.”

    Unlike UPKL’s domestic focus under the rallying cry of Apna Bharat, Apna Khel, WSKL is all about building a borderless Kabaddi ecosystem. Participating countries already include South Korea, Iran, Japan, Thailand, Canada, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the United States, with more nations expected to come on board as the countdown begins.

    But WSKL isn’t just about the tournament weeks. It’s being positioned as a 12-month Kabaddi ecosystem, offering off-season fan engagement, long-term player development, and a pipeline of international talent. That’s a far cry from the one-off seasonal formats currently dominating the sport.

    Dubai, with its neutral ground and strategic accessibility, has been selected as the inaugural host city, a move aimed at attracting a global audience and spotlighting Kabaddi on an international scale.

    With the whistle blown for what promises to be a high-stakes power play for the sport’s future, WSKL is more than just a league, it’s a leap. And if all goes to plan, Kabaddi might just tackle its way into the Olympic fold.

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  • Gaurav Banerjee takes the hot seat at BARC India

    Gaurav Banerjee takes the hot seat at BARC India

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) managing director & CEO, Gaurav Banerjee has been named chairman of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India. He replaces Shashi Sinha, whose two-year reign saw BARC go on a digital diet-adding smarter meters and deeper dives into premium households.

    Banerjee, who cut his teeth as a journalist before climbing the content ladder at Star India and Disney+ Hotstar, is no stranger to the BARC ecosystem. In 2022, he sat on its technical committee during his stint with Disney Star-where he helped bulk up Hotstar’s Hindi and regional original slate, making viewers binge and advertisers grin.

    At SPNI, Banerjee now drives the company’s strategy and operations, while juggling board roles at MSM-Worldwide Factual Media and Bangla Entertainment. Known for his editorial flair and boardroom savvy, his elevation to the BARC chair signals a continued bet on execs who straddle both streaming and broadcast worlds.

    He takes charge just as the lines between TV and digital blur, and advertisers cry out for unified currency metrics. Expect Banerjee to double down on transparency, turbocharge tech upgrades and push into under-measured markets. With over 20 years in media, a master’s in filmmaking from Jamia, and a nose for what India wants to watch, he seems well-placed to script BARC’s next act.

    Industry watchers will be looking to see if Banerjee sticks to Sinha’s reformist script—or flips the channel entirely. Either way, the remote is now firmly in his hands.

  • Reise Moto shifts Supercross fandom into high gear with ISRL fan parks in Season 2

    Reise Moto shifts Supercross fandom into high gear with ISRL fan parks in Season 2

    MUMBAI: Racing in India is no longer just a blur of wheels and dust on television. It’s now a family affair, a weekend escape, and a full-throttle festival. As the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) gears up for Season 2 between October and December 2025, it’s revving up not just the tracks, but the fanfare.

    ISRL has announced the launch of its high-octane ISRL Fan Parks, presented by Reise Moto, turning race weekends into full-fledged motorsport carnivals across host cities. These fan-first zones are slated to open two days before each Sunday race, and will feature everything from pit-lane access to AR gaming zones, merging adrenaline with accessibility.

    Reise Moto, already an associate sponsor of ISRL, takes pole position as presenting partner for the fan parks. “At Reise Moto, being a community-first performance brand, fostering motorsports ecosystem with globally acclaimed products for budding and pro racers. Our association with ISRL is rooted in shared values – performance, passion, and innovation”, said Reise Moto MD Yogesh Mahansaria.

    The fan parks promise racing tutorials, tech workshops, pit crew demos, and even electric bike zones for children. Over 5,000 families are expected to attend each weekend, making it India’s first true motorsport family experience. Adding more punch are live music gigs, cultural acts, food trucks, and VIP lounges. Think Grand Prix meets Glastonbury.

    ISRL co-founder Eeshan Lokhande emphasised that this is more than just fanfare. “ISRL isn’t just about racing it’s about building a new era of motorsport culture in India. Through the Fan Park, we’re inviting fans to go behind the scenes, meet the athletes, watch pit crews in action, and experience the sheer energy of Supercross up close”, he said.

    The parks will roll into each of ISRL’s race cities from October, with highlights including VR racing games, DIY bike zones, kids’ mini tracks, and rider meet-and-greets. It’s motorsport reimagined for the masses, aimed at bringing both seasoned petrolheads and newcomers under one turbo-charged tent.

    The league, run by Team Supercross India (SXI), founded by former racers Veer Patel and Lokhande, is fast gaining traction. Reise Moto too has revved up its presence in Indian biking circuits—offering Dakar-spec tyres, a European gear lineup, and 3,000+ dealers nationwide.

    From its Gujarat factory to the pit lanes of India’s biggest race weekends, Reise Moto seems intent on steering Indian motorsport fandom into a new lane—faster, louder, and a whole lot more inclusive.

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