ITV

Category: People

  • NDTV ropes in Alok Paranjpe to lead marketing for NDTV Profit and NDTV Marathi

    NDTV ropes in Alok Paranjpe to lead marketing for NDTV Profit and NDTV Marathi

    Mumbai: Alok Paranjape has been roped in to lead marketing for NDTV Profit and NDTV Marathi. With extensive experience across English and regional markets, Paranjape is expected to strengthen the brands.

    Before joining NDTV, Paranjape served as vice president of marketing at ZEE’s Premium Cluster, where he managed marketing for the company’s English and Marathi channels.

    His responsibilities included overseeing brand marketing, trade engagement and growth across TV and Social Media. Notably, he led a significant increase in brand visibility for &Flix and Zee Café and received multiple awards for marketing excellence.

    A thorough content marketer, Paranjape’s career spans over 15 years, including leadership roles at Discovery Communications, Sony Pictures Networks India, Tupperware, and Ogilvy. He has been involved in key marketing operations, content development, and the launch of various intellectual properties.

    With this appointment, NDTV aims to enhance its brand presence and engage audiences across its business and regional channels.

  • Jerome Paillard joins NFDC Film Bazaar as an advisor

    Jerome Paillard joins NFDC Film Bazaar as an advisor

    Mumbai: Film Bazaar, an annual global film market organised by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) which takes place alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), every year, has onboarded Jerome Paillard, the former executive director at the Cannes Film Festival market as an advisor.

    Given Jerome’s substantial and unparalleled contributions to the film industry as the head of the world’s largest Film Market for 27 years, he will play an important role. He will work closely with Vineeta Mishra, head of programming at Film Bazaar who has worked in the media industry for 18 years with her previous stint at Book My Show.

    Paillard’s contributions will be towards mentoring strategic guidance, sharing industry insights and fostering an environment conducive to creativity, collaboration, fostering participation of industry professionals engaged in Film Bazaar.

    NFDC the joint secretary ministry of I&B and managing director Prithul Kumar expressed, “Film Bazaar this year is expected to surpass all prior years’ magnificence and grandeur. We work hard to support the business of high-calibre filmmaking while also providing a platform for the upcoming and talented young South Asian filmmakers.”

    Jérôme Paillard added “I was lucky enough to take part in Film Bazaar in its early days, fifteen years ago, and again in 2023 when I was on the IFFI jury. I think Film Bazaar has a lot of potential, especially after this very successful year for Indian cinema, through many festivals around the world and especially in Cannes. I’m very happy to contribute to making this event even more effective for relations between South Asian cinema and the rest of the world.”

    The objective of this year’s Film Bazaar is to be even larger, better, and more focused on young talented filmmakers. In addition to carrying on the legacy of Film Bazaar events from past years, the intention is to create new paths and possibilities for aspiring filmmakers in the upcoming edition.

    The 18th edition this year, Film Bazaar will take place from 20th to 24th November at Marriott Resort, Goa.

  • Bollywood TV premieres regain their charm among audiences and brands alike!

    Bollywood TV premieres regain their charm among audiences and brands alike!

    Mumbai: Bollywood has remarkably reinvented its storytelling, and the outcome is quite telling with its sharp resurgence. “Brahmastra” & “Pathaan” became the shining stars of this memorable comeback breaking various box office records and the spate of blockbusters hasn’t abated since. This growing interest in watching Hindi movies isn’t just limited to theaters alone with WTPs achieving huge reach and viewership making them an advertiser’s favorite for attaining high impact.

    “Munjya,” the latest movie to premiere in Aug’24 on Star Gold is a huge testament to this trend with a staggering unique reach of 35 Mn in the first TV airing itself! Likewise, other recent airings of blockbusters like Salaar (in Hindi) and Fighter also saw a 30m reach during their tv debut. Interestingly, even movies which haven’t exactly set the Box Office on fire have managed to reach 20 Mn+ viewers in their first airing over the last 12 months. The ability to deliver 2-3X reach relative to Top Hindi reality shows like Bigg Boss, Indian Idol and Kaun Banega Crorepati underlines the superlative impact potential of WTPs.

    Comaparision of Avg. Reach (Mn) – Hindi WTPs and Top Hindi Reality Shows

    Superior quality of Attention:

    The advantage of WTPs extends well beyond its massive reach to the high-quality attention that it receives from audiences across demographic segments. Unlike digital UGC video platforms, where ads are often skipped, most ads aired during WTPs tend to be watched in full, creating higher memorability and building stronger brand associations.

    Attention measurement studies on TV using Computer Vision technology illustrate the superiority of advertising attention during WTPs relative to Reality Shows and News.

    Comparision of Attention for a 15 sec ad on different mediums, indexed to news channels

    It is extremely critical for a brand to evaluate this attention garnered per reach & impression, given the low attention span on most mediums in today’s fragmented media environment. It lends credence to the belief that all reach and impressions are not equal, as brand outcomes can vary significantly in proportion to the attentiveness of the viewers.

    Advertiser Impact:

    Brands from the Auto and Cement categories associated with ‘Munjya’ WTP witnessed a sharp spike in Google search trends. This demonstrates the ability of WTPs to elevate consumer interest and consideration in brands through the power of co-viewing audiences.

    Spike in online search for brands which advertised on the WTP airing of Muniya on Star Gold

    The colossal reach and high level of audience engagement make WTPs a true tentpole of advertising, offering brands a unique opportunity to connect with a captive audience and derive disproportionate associative value. Investment in WTPs for marketers is more than just reaching a broad audience—it is about tapping into a highly engaged viewership that drives real business outcomes.

     

  • ZMCL onboards Rajesh Sareen as new chief revenue officer

    ZMCL onboards Rajesh Sareen as new chief revenue officer

    Mumbai: Zee Media Corp Ltd (ZMCL) has announced the appointment of Rajesh Sareen as its new chief revenue officer (CRO). Rajesh will be responsible for driving the company’s revenue strategies, enhancing existing revenue streams, and building new business opportunities across Zee Media’s television, digital, and print platforms. Reporting directly to ZMCL CEO Karan Abhishek Singh, Rajesh’s appointment marks a significant step in Zee Media’s continued focus on growth and innovation in the media industry.

    Rajesh Sareen is a veteran in the media space, bringing over 20 years of extensive experience in sales, business development, and key account management. Before joining Zee Media, he served as executive vice president & national revenue head at TV18 Broadcast Ltd, where he played a pivotal role in driving advertising sales and leading revenue growth across multiple channels. His career also includes leadership positions at Star India Pvt Ltd, BCCL, and HT Media Ltd, where he consistently demonstrated his ability to build and maintain strategic corporate partnerships while delivering exceptional business outcomes. Rajesh’s expertise in navigating both traditional and digital media ecosystems positions him well to lead Zee Media’s revenue expansion efforts in an increasingly competitive market.

    ZMCL CEO Karan Abhishek Singh welcomed Rajesh’s appointment with optimism, stating, “We are thrilled to have Rajesh Sareen join the Zee Media leadership team. His depth of experience and strong track record in driving revenue growth make him the ideal choice to lead our revenue initiatives. Rajesh’s appointment comes at a crucial time as we look to capitalise on new opportunities in an evolving media landscape. With his strong leadership and innovative approach, I am confident that Zee Media will achieve new milestones under his direction.”

    As a CRO, Rajesh will be responsible for exploring new revenue models and leverage his in-depth knowledge of the media landscape to expand the company’s revenue streams and forge strategic alliances. He will also enhance the company’s ability to deliver value-driven solutions to advertisers and partners.

    Expressing his excitement Sareen said, “I am excited to join Zee Media, a company with a rich legacy and an incredible reputation in the media industry. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Zee Media to push the boundaries of innovation and build new revenue streams that will sustain long-term growth. Zee Media has a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on emerging trends in the media space, and I am eager to contribute to the company’s continued success.”

    As the media landscape continues to evolve, Zee Media remains dedicated to adapting and thriving in this dynamic environment, with Rajesh’s leadership expected to play a crucial role in achieving these goals.

  • OML Entertainment elevates Tusharr Kumar to chief executive officer

    OML Entertainment elevates Tusharr Kumar to chief executive officer

    Mumbai:  OML Entertainment, a cultural and creative powerhouse in branded content, advertising and entertainment, has elevated Tusharr Kumar as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Tusharr brings over 15 years of experience across the new-media, automotive and FMCG industries. He has been associated with OML Entertainment since 2012 in various capacities across different businesses.

    After a successful nine-year tenure with OML Entertainment including the last five years as CEO, Gunjan Arya is moving on from the company. Gunjan, outgoing CEO of OML Entertainment, said, “I couldn’t be more proud to announce Tusharr as our CEO. It has been an incredible journey at OML Entertainment, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such talented and passionate individuals. Together, we’ve pioneered new forms of entertainment, expanded globally, and driven cultural change through innovative content. While moving on is a bittersweet decision, I am confident in the bright future that lies ahead for OML Entertainment with Tusharr at the helm. Tusharr has been a driving force at OML Entertainment, and I couldn’t be more confident in his ability to lead the company as the next CEO. His deep understanding of the content and creator landscape, and our revenue ecosystems, combined with his strategic vision and acumen, make him the ideal leader to steer OML Entertainment during the company’s next phase of growth. ”

    Under Gunjan’s leadership, OML Entertainment has transformed into a leading global player in digital media and entertainment; seen two successful businesses spun out to merge with strategic partners; expanded the company’s international footprint to 20 countries; and launched Hypothesis the global influencer marketing tech platform, among significant growth milestones. She focused on expanding the company’s key leadership across branded services verticals, original content studio and tech-enabled influencer marketing, resulting in the creation of successful shows, new IPs and partnerships with top artists and brands.

    As CEO, Tusharr will ensure the company’s growth across businesses and markets. In his most recent role as COO since 2021, he oversaw the company’s operations and successfully spearheaded initiatives that have further strengthened the company’s position as one of India’s largest independent branded content, advertising and entertainment companies. With diverse experience across new media, automotive and FMCG industries, Tusharr has worked at brands like Ducati, Royal Enfield and Parle-Agro.

    Speaking about his new role, Tusharr said, “I’m really excited about what the future holds for OML Entertainment and am confident that the upward trajectory we’ve been on will continue. This confidence comes from our biggest asset, our incredible teams along with trusted partnerships with artists, clients and investors. We have always been at the forefront of creativity and cultural innovation. I’m looking forward to leading OML Entertainment as we push boundaries and build on the solid foundation laid by Gunjan. As we build what we’ve dreamed of, we will continue to ask ourselves – are we shaping culture? Are we bringing voices to life? Most importantly, are we creating and not just following? ”

    Over the last few years, OML Entertainment has strategically streamlined and consolidated various businesses to arrive at the company’s focus areas of creator tech, artist representation, advertising, and long-form content production. This flywheel is the perfect mix of independent yet symbiotic businesses that feed into each other’s growth.

    OML Entertainment investor and Emerald Media managing director Rajesh Kamat added, “Tusharr’s elevation to CEO is a testament to his exceptional leadership and his unwavering commitment to excellence. Under his guidance, OML Entertainment has achieved remarkable milestones, and I have no doubt that he will continue to build on this momentum. Tusharr’s vision for OML Entertainment aligns perfectly with our goals as investors, and we are thrilled to support him as he leads the company to new heights.”

    OML Entertainment’s key focus areas will include expanding its fast-growing advertising and branded content businesses, doubling down on its long-form original content productions, and driving the global growth of its influencer marketing platform, Hypothesis. These initiatives will continue to build on OML’s mission of bringing creators’ stories to life and innovating at the intersection of entertainment and technology.

  • Swastik makes key hires in digital team

    Swastik makes key hires in digital team

    Mumbai: Swastik announced the expansion of its digital leadership team with the appointment of Jitendra Joshi as the head of digital monetisation and brand partnerships and Smita Roy as the head – digital operations. While Jitendra will oversee content monetisation through strategic partnerships and ad revenue initiatives to drive the company’s digital growth, Smita Roy will be responsible for driving the focus on expanding digital presence across medium and content absorption in order to deliver exceptional content to a broader audience.

    Jitendra brings valuable experience, stretching over 17 years in media and advertising sales. He has been at the forefront of creating and executing strategic solutions for client partners on some of the largest properties in TV broadcasting space such as Kaun Banega Crorepati, the Kapil Sharma Show, Indian Idol, and many more. His expertise spans across diverse genres including GEC, sports, Hindi movies, regional, English niche, and music channels. In his most recent role at Sony Pictures Networks (CulverMax Entertainment), Jitendra led the Hindi movie channel – Sony MAX 2. Over the past decade as a leader, he has built and retained top-tier teams where he achieved a stellar retention rate, and fostered a culture of innovation.

    With over 17 years of experience across banking, media and entertainment, Smita started her career with J P Morgan Chase as a Financial Service Advisor and then moved on to CNBC TV18 as a part of Focus18 where she handled corporate events and marketing. Following this, she joined Qyuki Digital Media as a brand solutions Lead and then Eros Now as a lead for brand alliances and partnerships. Prior to joining Swastik, Smita was associated with Hungama Digital as Lead for Content Syndication and Brand Partnerships.

    Speaking on the appointment, Swastik founder and chief creative, Siddharth Kumar Tewary said, “We welcome Smita and Jitendra to our Swastik family, I believe both of them will drive our journey towards telling stories to newer audiences through the digital medium. With our experience and understanding of Indian history and culture for over a decade now, we are really excited about this journey as it enables us to tell stories of our past to our future.”

    Speaking on his appointment, Swastik head of digital monetisation & brand partnerships, Jitendra Joshi expressed, “I am honoured to join Swastik and contribute to its dynamic growth. With a significant presence built in television, we look forward to growing the franchise of our content on digital platforms too.”

    Swastik head – digital operations, Smita Roy further added, “I am thrilled to be part of Swastik Group, a company that has consistently set benchmarks in content creation. I look forward to leveraging my experience to enhance our digital footprint in content & music and deliver captivating content that resonates with audiences across platforms.’’

    Jitendra Joshi and Smita Roy’s appointments are with immediate effect. They both are based out of Mumbai and will report into Siddharth Kumar Tewary.

  • Zee hires Shiva Chinnasamy as chief technology & product officer

    Zee hires Shiva Chinnasamy as chief technology & product officer

    Mumbai: Zee Entertainment has appointed Shiva Chinnasamy as its chief technology and product officer.

    In this new role, Shiva will be based at the company’s Technology & Innovation
    Centre (TIC) in Bengaluru, and will report into  Amit Goenka who holds the position of president – digital business, international linear business, enterprise technology and broadcast
    operations & engineering.

    Shiva will be responsible for the efforts being undertaken at the TIC across data, artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning (ML) to enhance the consumer experience across platforms and further support Zee’s growth plans across its core business segments.

    “As the company moves forward in line with its strategic objectives to drive robust growth, certain action-oriented steps are being  implemented to enhance the capabilities of the businesses,” said Goenka. “Technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall customer journey across all our platforms, and our Technology and Innovation Centre is steadily working towards gaining a deeper understanding of our vast audience base in order to deliver successful business outcomes. Shiva’s invaluable industry expertise and experience in scaling businesses with a deep understanding of technology will be instrumental in building the necessary capabilities for the company in its next phase of growth. I look forward to working closely with Shiva and the team at TIC to complement Zee’s long-term growth trajectory”

    “I am honoured to join the journey of Zee at a pivotal intersection between content and technology, as the company aims to fortify its capabilities in the realm of content distribution and monetisation,” disclosed Chinnasamy. “I am excited to get started and work with the teams to build innovative solutions for our businesses and unlock deeper consumer insights that help accelerate innovation driven growth opportunities for Zee.”

    “The OTT and media segments are ripe for tech led disruption. And I couldn’t think of a more exciting place to be at now than at Zee, which has a track record of innovation in Indian media space.  And I think Zee TIC has one of the coolest offices in Bengaluru. And we are cooking some of the coolest apps out there,” he later posted on LinkedIn.

    Chinnasamy has over 20 years of work experience across technology, data science and analytics to provide large scale, long-term solutions in close collaboration with stakeholders and business partners. His expertise spans across ad tech, eCommerce, omni channel retail, B2C fintech, B2B SaaS, platform engineering and mobile engineering.

    He has been instrumental in building multiple impactful products in lead roles through innovative ideas and tight execution. Previously, he was associated with Rippling as the India Site Lead, responsible for building a high performance, data driven collaborative culture. During his career, Shiva has also been associated with global companies including Google, Tesco, Target, Amazon and Verizon Labs amongst others.

  • Collective Newsroom appoints its first chair

    Collective Newsroom appoints its first chair

    Mumbai: The Collective Newsroom (CNR) is to announce the appointment of Amit Jain as the chair of its board of directors.  A cross-industry veteran, Jain will lead the newly founded board of CNR, which was launched in April 2024 as an independent Indian-owned media company.  CNR is the sole producer and publisher of content for BBC News in India in six Indian Languages and English YouTube.

    Jain brings a wealth of global corporate experience with a deep understanding of the Indian, Asian & European markets.  His transformational leadership comes from spearheading a range of leadership roles in diverse sectors that include consumer goods, media, and communication.

    In his last executive role, Jain was the first Indian to become the Managing Director of L’Oreal India.  He successfully led the integration of their digital strategy and paved the way for L’Oreal India’s foray into the luxury and cosmeceuticals market.  Post his move from the executive role, in 2023 he has assumed non-executive board positions including the Chairmanship of Sanofi CHC India.

    During his stint with Viacom where he was heading the business in Asia, Jain co-created the Viacom 18 joint venture which launched the Colors Television channel in India.

    Jain also has more than a decade of experience with Coca-Cola, where he led their businesses across India and Asia.

    Amit Jain, Chair of the Board of Directors, Collective Newsroom said, “I am delighted to take up the Chair’s responsibility of this thriving organisation.  I have observed the high standards of impactful and insightful content that the Collective Newsroom has been producing for the BBC in India.”

    “I will be keen to see the Collective Newsroom build upon its core strengths & expertise for developing more innovative business opportunities, Jain added.”

    Collective Newsroom chief executive officer Rupa Jha welcomed the appointment, “Amit’s vast experience across various industries, including the media and his dynamic outlook will certainly help the Collective Newsroom think out of the box and build on our vision.  I look forward to working with him.”

  • ZEE appoints Shiva Chinnasamy as chief technology & product officer

    ZEE appoints Shiva Chinnasamy as chief technology & product officer

    Mumbai: Media & entertainment powerhouse Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEE), has announced the appointment of Shiva Chinnasamy as the chief technology & product officer with effect from 2 September 2024. In this new role, Shiva will be based at the company’s technology & innovation centre (TIC) in Bengaluru and will report to Amit Goenka, president of digital business, international linear business, enterprise technology and broadcast operations & engineering.

    Shiva will be responsible for the efforts being undertaken at the TIC across Data, artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning (ML) to enhance the consumer experience across platforms and further support the Company’s growth plans across its core business segments.

    Speaking on the appointment, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd president of digital business, international linear business, enterprise technology and broadcast operations & engineering Amit Goenka said, “As the Company moves forward in line with its strategic objectives to drive robust growth, certain action-oriented steps are being implemented to enhance the capabilities of the businesses. Technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall customer journey across all our platforms, and our Technology and Innovation Centre is steadily working towards gaining a deeper understanding of our vast audience base in order to deliver a successful business outcome.

    Shiva’s invaluable industry expertise and experience in scaling businesses with a deep understanding of technology will be instrumental in building the necessary capabilities for the Company in its next phase of growth. I look forward to working closely with Shiva and the team at TIC to complement the long-term growth trajectory of the Company.” Commenting on his new role, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. chief technology & product officer Shiva Chinnasamy added, “I am honoured to join the journey of ZEE at a pivotal intersection between content and technology, as the Company aims to fortify its capabilities in the realm of content distribution and monetization. I am excited to get started and work with the teams to build innovative solutions for our businesses and unlock deeper consumer insights that help accelerate innovation-driven growth opportunities for the Company.”

    Shiva comes with over 20 years of experience across technology, data science & analytics to provide large-scale, long-term solutions in close collaboration with stakeholders and business partners. His expertise spans Ad tech, eCommerce, omni-channel retail, B2C FinTech, B2B SaaS, platform engineering and mobile engineering. He has been instrumental in building multiple impactful products in lead roles through innovative ideas and tight execution. Previously he was associated with Rippling as the India Site Lead, responsible for building a high-performance, data-driven collaborative culture. During his career, Shiva has also been associated with global companies including Google, Tesco, Target, Amazon and Verizon Labs amongst others.

  • Vivek Srivastava to join JioCinema as EVP & business head

    Vivek Srivastava to join JioCinema as EVP & business head

    Mumbai: Vivek Srivastava, who led growth and business operations for Amazon Prime Video in India, will be taking over as the executive vice-president and business head for JioCinema Hindi, as per sources.

    Before Amazon, Srivastava held key roles in the media industry, such as president of digital and broadcast at Times Network and head of digital and commercial at Colors, Viacom18. In his new role, he will report to Viacom18 Media Pvt Ltd president of general entertainment Alok Jain.

    His appointment comes at a time when JioCinema has surpassed 15 million paying subscribers, following the launch of new subscription plans in April.

    Despite being a late entrant in local-language originals, JioCinema aims to grow its subscriber base with affordable pricing. Viacom18’s media operations are also set to merge with Star India Pvt Ltd, in a deal valued at ₹70,350 crore, with Reliance Industries investing ₹11,500 crore ($1.4 billion) to support its growth.