ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Rahul Kanwal to steer NDTV as CEO from June; revenue & losses rise in FY 25

    Rahul Kanwal to steer NDTV as CEO from June; revenue & losses rise in FY 25

    MUMBAI:  In a high-voltage move, New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) has tapped veteran journalist Rahul Kanwal as its new chief executive officer and key managerial personnel, effective 16 June 2025. The appointment, cleared by the board at its meeting on 25 April, awaits the final nod from the ministry of information and broadcasting.

    Kanwal, who resigned as news director of India Today and Aaj Tak, and executive director of Business Today about a fortnight ago, brings more than 25 years of newsroom grit to the corner office. Known for his prime-time presence, election dissections and hard-nosed investigations, Kanwal has built a formidable brand in Indian journalism.

    An alumnus of the general management program at Harvard Business School and a Chevening Scholar, Kanwal honed his reporting chops at Delhi University and Cardiff University, specialising in international broadcast journalism. He is also a Roy Peck Trust Grant awardee for hostile environment journalism — and no stranger to both on-ground turbulence and boardroom manoeuvres.

    Kanwal’s editorial journey spans senior stints at Zee News and Headlines Today, marked by multiple awards for journalistic excellence. As he trades the anchor desk for the CEO’s chair, industry watchers are keen to see whether his instinct for headline-grabbing stories will translate into headline-grabbing strategies at NDTV.

    Meanwhile, the news broadcaster wrapped up FY25 with a cocktail of heady revenue growth and strategic bravado — and a side of losses. Busy transforming itself into a global, next-gen media powerhouse,  NDTV posted a 19 per cent jump in fourth-quarter revenue and a full-year top-line surge of 26 per cent.

    The network’s bold gambit included expansive coverage of heavyweight events like the Mahakumbh and Delhi Elections, alongside marquee brands such as Yuva and the NDTV Auto Awards. Meanwhile, its digital arm raced ahead, clocking a 47 per cent year-on-year jump in users across websites and apps.

    This was no year of half-measures. NDTV went all in — expanding distribution, overhauling its production and digital ecosystems, and splashing out on brand-building. It also widened its portfolio, launching NDTV Marathi to capture regional audiences and NDTV World to beam India’s view to global shores. The year also saw the launch of the ambitious NDTV World Summit, a high-powered gathering of global movers and shakers.

    However, ambition comes at a cost. Heavy investments meant NDTV ended the year in the red — a deliberate sacrifice, the company says, to sow the seeds for sustainable, profitable growth ahead.

    “FY 2024-25 was a defining year where we chose to lead with ambition and invest in the future,” said NDTV executive director and editor in chief Sanjay Pugalia. “We are confident the strategic decisions taken this year will deliver long-term value for our audiences, partners, and stakeholders.”

  • JioStar blitzes in FY 2025, clocks Rs 10,006 crore in revenue since merger

    JioStar blitzes in FY 2025, clocks Rs 10,006 crore in revenue since merger

    MUMBAI: JioStar is scripting a blockbuster success story, delivering a knockout performance since its merger launch on 14 November 2024. The entertainment juggernaut reported gross revenues of Rs 10,006 crore and an EBITDA of Rs 774 crore, posting a margin of 7.7 per cent — all while still ramping up operations.

    At the heart of this meteoric rise lies JioHotstar, the OTT powerhouse that debuted on 14 February 2025 and rapidly changed the game. Within just five weeks, JioHotstar crossed the milestone of 100 million paid subscribers — a feat unrivalled in the Indian streaming landscape. By March-end, monthly active users (MAUs) hit a staggering 503 million, thanks to a blockbuster calendar packed with the ICC Champions Trophy, IPL, and a digital library boasting over 320,000 hours of content.

    Sport was JioStar’s turbocharger with IPL 2025 opening with fireworks, clocking 1.4 billion digital views (a 35 per cent spike year-on-year), 253 million TV viewers (up 14 per cent), and a colossal 49.6 billion minutes of total watch time across platforms (up 33 per cent). JioHotstar alone posted a dazzling 38 per cent jump in digital viewership, buoyed by a 47 per cent surge in connected TV (CTV) audiences and a 60 per cent higher CTV watch time.

    The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 turned out to be another mega-hit, recording the highest TV ratings ever for a multi-nation cricket tournament in India. The tournament delivered a 4.3 TVR — a 23 per cent gain over the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 — and set a new peak concurrency record with a staggering 61.2 million live viewers during the final.

    JioStar also scored with the Tata WPL season 3, which posted a 19 per cent ratings lift and expanded its reach by 49 per cent. On JioHotstar, WPL viewership surged by 34 per cent, underpinned by a massive 130 per cent growth in CTV engagement.

    In a strategic brand play, all sports channels were unified under the Star Sports banner, now comprising 24 channels — with dedicated Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada sports offerings to deepen regional footprints.
    Beyond cricket fever, JioHotstar is claimed to be reshaping entertainment with a new wave of digital experiences. The Mahashivratri night live-stream drew an impressive 39 million views, while Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour streamed live to 8.3 million fans, bringing global experiences closer to Indian audiences.

    A new content vertical, “Sparks,” featuring short, snappy segments from India’s top digital superstars, has tapped into the nation’s appetite for quick-binge entertainment — a strategic play to capture Gen Z and millennial attention spans.

    Coupled with its arsenal of premium OTT originals and international content, JioHotstar is fast positioning itself as the de facto platform for premium digital storytelling.

    While the digital frontier blazed ahead, linear TV continued to deliver knockout blows.

    Star Plus cemented its dominance as India’s top Hindi GEC, with six out of the top 10 shows under its belt. Star Gold’s premiere of Stree 2 garnered a reach of 41.2 million, further reinforcing its draw among movie buffs.
    Regional GECs — Star Pravah (Marathi), Star Jalsha (Bengali), Star Maa (Telugu), Star Vijay (Tamil), and Asianet (Malayalam) — retained their #1 spots across states, showcasing JioStar’s deep local connect.

    Meanwhile, niche genres — Kids, Youth, and English — remained the network’s unchallenged playgrounds, extending JioStar’s leadership across every major viewer segment.

    In less than six months post-merger, JioStar has not just delivered on audacious promises — it has rewritten the rulebook. With a dominant hold across digital and linear entertainment, record-breaking sports audiences, and an evolving playbook for new-age content, JioStar is emerging as India’s undisputed entertainment giant.

    As Reliance’s media empire keeps building momentum, it’s clear that for rivals, the chase is only getting harder.

  • India’s TV blindspot hides 100 million eyeballs-and everyone wants a piece of it

    India’s TV blindspot hides 100 million eyeballs-and everyone wants a piece of it

    MUMBAI: Far from the reach of TRPs and dish antennas lies a forgotten audience—There’s a silent crowd of 100 million Indian homes—unplugged, unconnected, and uncounted—who have neither a cable subscription nor a dish on the roof. They dwell beyond the prime-time spotlight in the shadows of India’s glitzy entertainment economy.

    At Indiantelevision.com’s 21 edition of the Video, Broadband, Broadcast Technology Summit 2025, under the theme ‘Changing the Paradigm’, the opening panel titled “Plugging the Gaps – What’s the Right Formula?” saw industry leaders converge to crack the conundrum of these missing millions.

    Moderated by BCG’s Payal Mehta, the session brought together a powerhouse of voices from broadband giants, content behemoths and tech disruptors, each offering their vision of reaching India’s TV no-go zones.

    You Broadband CEO Sameer Mahapatra cut straight to the issue—access. “Fixed broadband is miles away when I’m talking about semi-rural and rural,” he said. While mobile broadband has gained significant ground, Mahapatra argued that public-private partnerships, such as those seen under the Universal Service Obligation Fund, would be vital for making rural access a reality.

    Excitel Broadband chief customer experience officer Parag Garodia acknowledged the dominance of mobile over fixed networks but flagged affordability and infrastructure as persistent challenges. “Infrastructure in tribal and ultra-rural India is rare. Even shops that sell televisions or hardware are few and far between,” he noted. He emphasised the need for more vernacular content, citing that cultural disconnect is a major reason why rural India remains unhooked from TV.

    Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery head of distribution and eurosport – south Asia Ruchir Jain reminded the room that India, as a content market, is massive in size but tiny in monetisation. “India is either one of the largest or the largest country in the portfolio of global media firms, but its share in monetisation is of low significance,” he said. According to Jain, the content is there, the viewers are coming, but the money isn’t flowing. Yet.

    GTPL Hathway Limited SVP Yatin Gupta laid bare the pricing dilemma. “The pricing has become common for rural as well as urban areas,” he said, referencing TRAI’s 2017 tariff order. He argued that differential pricing could revive cable TV in price-sensitive rural zones, where many have dumped their subscriptions altogether. “Affordability is the elephant in the room,” he added, stating that even basic necessities like uninterrupted electricity come before a television set in a rural household’s shopping list.

    But the debate wasn’t just about televisions. PlayboxTV founder & CEO Aamir Mulani saw mobile as the true battlefield. “There’s a big war going on between mobile and TV—and that war is for attention,” he declared. With 74 per cent of content now consumed via mobile, compared to TV’s 26 per cent, Mulani advocated for microtransactions, mobile-first content, and pay-per-episode formats that have gained traction in China. “Revenue is not the challenge—it’s strategy that needs fixing,” he added.

    The session closed with a call for aggregation—not just of content but of access models, pricing, and distribution. Community viewing centres, government-subsidised set-top boxes, bundled services and freemium ad-supported content models were all floated as potential solutions.

    From DD Free Dish’s five crore loyal homes to the unexplored hinterlands, everyone agrees on one thing: India’s TV-dark households aren’t unreachable—they’re just waiting for the right connection.

  • ‘Jiyo Gopuda’: The Latest Offering from Sony AATH Promises Joy and Laughter

    ‘Jiyo Gopuda’: The Latest Offering from Sony AATH Promises Joy and Laughter

    MUMBAI: Sony AATH, known for bringing families together through heartwarming and entertaining stories, is thrilled to announce the launch of its show, ‘Jiyo Gopuda’. Adding a delightful dose of laughter and presenting a character quite unlike any other, ‘Jiyo Gopuda’ is all set to premiere on the channel on April 26, 2024.

    Jiyo Gopuda introduces viewers to the amusing Gopen Chandra Barik, who mysteriously arrives in Moglaipara and takes up residence in a rented attic. Gopuda’s seemingly impossible adventures and the unbelievable tales he spins from the confines of the attic charm the local children. He becomes a captivating figure for the landlord’s son, and his close-knit group of friends – Jhinuk, Chintu, Potla, Hotka and Chingri.

    Get ready to join Gopuda and his young companions on a series of unbelievably funny and imaginative adventures.

    Tune in to Sony AATH on April 26, 2025, at 12:30 PM, and watch ‘Jiyo Gopuda’, every Saturday and Sunday. Prepare for a weekend full of family fun and laughter!

  • DHL delivers again, extends Mumbai Indians partnership for fifth year running

    DHL delivers again, extends Mumbai Indians partnership for fifth year running

    MUMBAI: DHL Express is staying on the pitch with Mumbai Indians for another season, renewing its sponsorship for a fifth consecutive year. Announced on April 24, the extended partnership reaffirms DHL’s place as the ‘team behind the team’—supporting the IPL giants across men’s, women’s, and international circuits.

    The global logistics major will continue as principal sponsor of the Mumbai Indians in India, while also backing MI Cape Town in South Africa’s SA20 league and the Mumbai Indians Women’s Team. The alliance underlines DHL’s global sports portfolio, which already includes Formula 1, MotoGP, and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

    “We are proud to extend our partnership with Mumbai Indians once again. Our partnership is built on shared values of excellence, speed, passion, and teamwork,” said DHL Express SVP – south Asia R.S. Subramanian.

    This season, the duo is also reuniting for the “Six for a Cause” campaign. For every six hit by a Mumbai Indians player, DHL will plant six trees with sustainability partners SankalpTaru Foundation and Sashakt Foundation. Last season, the initiative saw 133 sixes translate to nearly 800 trees.

    DHL will also double down on fan engagement with an expanded ‘Unstoppable’ campaign. Originally launched to spotlight women athletes and entrepreneurs, the campaign will now include interactive digital activations and on-ground experiences with the MI men’s team.

    “DHL Express is proud to engage with millions of cricket fans across India through our partnership with Mumbai Indians,” said DHL Express India VP – sales & marketing Sandeep Juneja. “Their legacy of success and drive for excellence, perfectly embody DHL’s commitment to delivering excellence while connecting people, improving lives across the world.”

    The Mumbai Indians spokesperson added, “Mumbai Indians and DHL Express share a common vision of excellence… We look forward to leveraging our combined expertise to create exceptional experiences for our global fan base and stakeholders.”

    With another season underway and more sixes ready to fly, DHL isn’t just shipping parcels—it’s sending a message of purpose, partnership, and powerful cricket.

  • Honda Racing India revs up for ARRC 2025 with two teen riders and big podium dreams

    Honda Racing India revs up for ARRC 2025 with two teen riders and big podium dreams

    MUMBAI: The tarmac’s heating up in Thailand and so is India’s motorsport ambition. Idemitsu Honda Racing India has touched down at the Chang International Circuit for the season opener of the 2025 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), scheduled from 25-27 April.

    With two teenage riders in the saddle and high hopes in the pit lane, Honda’s move signals more than just another racing season—it’s a full-throttle statement on India’s growing presence in international motorsport.

    Representing Honda India in the Asia Production 250cc (AP250) class are 19-year-old Kavin Samaar Quintal and 18-year-old Johann Reeves Emmanuel. Kavin returns with ARRC experience under his helmet, while Johann makes his championship debut after cutting his teeth in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup and the 2024 Thailand Talent Cup.

    “Having raced in the previous season of the ARRC, I have gained invaluable experience and insights into what it takes to compete at this level. In 2025, I am determined to take all my learnings, sharpen my skills further, and aim for a strong finish in the top 10 rankings,” said Quintal.

    Emmanuel added, “Being a part of the 2025 ARRC is a huge opportunity for me… I will give it my all to secure a place in the top 10 rankings, and I am truly grateful to Honda Racing India for believing in me.”

    The ARRC calendar spans six rounds this season, with stops in Malaysia (30 May–1 June), Japan (July), Indonesia (August), and a December finale back in Thailand. One round’s venue remains under wraps.

    Honda’s broader vision is clear: nurture Indian racers for the global stage while flexing its engineering muscle across Asia’s toughest tracks. The strategy blends talent development with brand ambition—bolstering the ‘Make in India’ mission while pushing Indian motorsport beyond the domestic grid.

    With two determined teens, a fine-tuned fleet, and an open throttle, Honda Racing India is chasing speed, success, and a shot at the podium.

  • Pragati Ghorpade bids adieu to IndiaCast UK after 12-year innings

    Pragati Ghorpade bids adieu to IndiaCast UK after 12-year innings

    MUMBAI: Pragati Ghorpade, the long-serving head of operations at IndiaCast UK, has stepped down after a 12-year run that saw her rise from a temporary maternity cover role to becoming an influential figure in the company’s international playbook.

    A software whiz turned media multitasker, Pragati brought analytical flair to the business of broadcasting. Her journey at IndiaCast—a joint venture between TV18 and Viacom18—has been marked by relentless adaptability, strategic nous, and an ability to build bridges between tech and television.

    Starting off as an associate director, she soon took charge of operations, where she helped steer everything from high-stakes campaign rollouts to on-ground events and glitzy local productions. Under her watch, shows like Antakshari, NRI Hadsa, and Desi Beat Season 5 not only struck a chord with diaspora audiences but also turned IndiaCast UK into a vibrant hub of regional storytelling.

    Beyond the screen, her contributions shaped marketing strategy, streamlined operations, and ensured the IndiaCast brand remained top-of-mind in a fiercely competitive UK market.

    Her departure follows the exit of other seniors like UK boss Govind Shahi.

  • wTVision’s robotic dog cam debuts in IPL 2025, capturing hearts and highlights

    wTVision’s robotic dog cam debuts in IPL 2025, capturing hearts and highlights

    MUMBAI: Broadcast technology firm wTVision, in collaboration with the BCCI and technical partner Omnicam, has introduced a robotic pet camera system in the form of a dog during IPL 2025. Making its first appearance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during the Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals match, the camera brings a new dimension to live sports production.

    The initiative was designed to enhance audience engagement by offering a more relatable and emotionally resonant experience. The dog-shaped robot interacts in real time with players, umpires and fans—performing gestures like handshakes, jumps, and heart signs—adding warmth and novelty to the matchday broadcast.

    The camera is built with a custom stabilised gimbal, remote pan-tilt system, and RF video technology, all housed in a compact 3D-printed frame. This ensures smooth footage, even on uneven terrain, without compromising broadcast quality.

    The response has been overwhelmingly positive. A video of the robotic camera has garnered over 5.8 million views, 560,000 likes, and 72,000 shares across social media platforms. Fans have praised the addition as “heartwarming” and “a standout feature of the season.” 
     

    The BCCI has further encouraged viewer participation by inviting suggestions for naming the robotic dog.

    wTVision Solutions founder & director Divyajot Ahluwalia said: “To see this technology live during one of the most-watched sporting events globally is a proud moment for us. We’re committed to using smart technology to bring fans closer to the game in meaningful, engaging ways.”

    Known for its work in live graphics, AI-driven production, and advanced camera systems, wTVision continues to push the boundaries of sports broadcasting. With this launch, the company reaffirms its focus on innovation that combines storytelling, technology, and audience connection.

  • GEPL goes prime time: JioStar to air Season 2 of e-Cricket league with 34 knockout clashes

    GEPL goes prime time: JioStar to air Season 2 of e-Cricket league with 34 knockout clashes

    MUMBAI: Cricket, consoles and crores: JetSynthesys is bowling a bouncer into India’s primetime schedule. The company announced that season two of its Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL) will air live on JioStar’s linear and OTT platforms. For the first time ever, the esports league will hit national television, blending the thrill of gaming with the theatrics of traditional sport.

    GEPL Season 2 promises an adrenaline spike with 34 high-octane matches slated from 27 April to 2 May. The broadcast window runs 11 am to 8 pm daily, across Star Sports and JioHotstar. In this edition, the prize pool jumps to Rs 3.05 crore – a bump up from Rs 2.51 crore in the previous season. Player interest has surged as well, with registration numbers skyrocketing from two lakh to 9.1 lakh.

    Powered by Real Cricket™ and featuring a team-based format, the league will stage its matches in Bengaluru. According to organisers, this year marks a watershed moment in India’s esports evolution.

    “GEPL is a high-energy league that mirrors the scale and professionalism of traditional sports. Our partnership with JioStar is a milestone; cementing our place on India’s biggest broadcast stage,” said JetSynthesys founder & CEO Rajan Navani.

    CEO & league commissioner Rohit Potphode added, “With Season 2, we’ve sharpened our vision for GEPL that enables player growth, team development, and fan engagement at scale. Our presence on JioStar, across both streaming and TV, is strategic in expanding our reach and delivering a premier sports entertainment experience to millions of Indians.”

    JioStar head of content – sports Siddharth Sharma remarked, “GEPL is a perfect example of innovation in sport, and we are committed to help it reach its full potential.”

    As esports flexes its muscle on mainstream platforms, GEPL’s arrival on national broadcast is a sign of the times – a spectacle merging cricket’s legacy with the future of competitive play.

  • Star Utsav snatches crown from Dangal in FTA showdown

    Star Utsav snatches crown from Dangal in FTA showdown

    MUMBAI: Star Utsav has stormed back into the Free-to-Air (FTA) arena, snatching the No. 1 spot from long-time leader Dangal and catapulting itself to fourth place overall across the Hindi-speaking market, both pay and FTA, in urban and rural India.

    Having rejoined DD Free Dish on 1 April, Star Utsav wasted no time making its presence felt—reaching 111 million viewers within just 11 days of its comeback.  The channel says it managed to get 102 GRPs against Dangal’s 97 in BARC week 14 HSM U+R.

    With heavy-hitters like RadhaKrishn, Rabba Ve, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin, the channel seems to have found its old rhythm and then some.

    “Star Utsav has risen to become the new  no1 FTA channel, ushering in a transformative era in Hindi entertainment. This is just the beginning of a revolution in FTA television, reshaping India’s viewing habits for the future,” said the network’s advertising sales team in a post on Linkedin.

    The timing couldn’t be better. With rising data costs, patchy rural internet, and pricey pay-TV packs, FTA TV is looking more attractive than ever. Add to that a boom in electrification and cheaper TV sets, and it’s a recipe for ratings gold.

    The return of legacy FTA giants—Star Utsav, Sony Pal, Colors Rishtey and Zee Anmol—has breathed new life into DD Free Dish, Prasar Bharati’s free DTH service. As per the FICCI-EY report, FTA homes are set to rise from 49 million in 2024 to 57 million by 2030. And with ad revenues already north of Rs 2,000 crore, there’s more than just eyeballs at stake.

    Star Utsav’s re-entry has shaken up the pecking order—and with more homes plugging in every year, the FTA slugfest has only just begun.