ITV

Category: People

  • Rakesh Khar joins Network 18 as operations GM

    Rakesh Khar joins Network 18 as operations GM

    MUMBAI: Network 18 has roped in a senior hand to head its operations. Rakesh Khar has recently joined the company as its general manger operations. This is his second stint with the company.

     

    Khar has a rich experience across several news channels over a period of nearly three decades. He has worked as  Zee Media consulting editor and as editor of Zee Research Group, Financial Chronicle as senior editor, Sahara Samay as strategic planning head and network business editor, Zee News executive editor, TV18 assistant editor, The Economic Times corporate editor and the Kashmir Times staff correspondent.

     

    Based out of Delhi, Khar has experience ranging from conceptualisation, execution, operations and strategy. He has built several editorial teams in print and TV news organisations.

     

    In the past couple of months, the network has seen several changes, after its acquisition by Reliance Industries led Mukesh Ambani. 

  • Star CJ appoints Ramakrishnan as the new CFO

    Star CJ appoints Ramakrishnan as the new CFO

    MUMBAI: Star CJ Network, a home shopping network, has announced the appointment of Ramakrishnan. N as its new chief financial officer. Taking charge of his role at Star CJ, Ramakrishnan will play an important part in strengthening the organisation and being part of the team to grow the business.

     

    A qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary, Ramakrishnan was the CFO of Foodworld Supermarkets & Health and Glow Retailing based out of Bangalore, immediately before taking up the current assignment. He has over 25 years of work experience in companies of repute including Bunge India and Tata BP Lubricants.

     

    Ramakrishnan said, “I am delighted to be a part of Star CJ. It is a pan India player and is positioned well to capture a larger market share. I look forward to significant growth in business which will further strengthen our position.”

     

    Added Star CJ Network CEO Kenny Shin, “Ramakrishnan’s appointment as the chief financial officer marks the beginning of new and exciting developments in Star CJ. With his knowledge of finance and strategic planning, he is confident of implementing a roadmap to achieve the next level of growth for this company.”

  • Savvy Dilip joins ITV Network as group CMO

    Savvy Dilip joins ITV Network as group CMO

    MUMBAI: ITV Network that runs news channels NewsX and India News has made another appointment. Savvy Dilip has been appointed as the group chief marketing officer. She will report to group CEO RK Arora.

     

    As CMO, Dilip will be responsible for marketing activites, including marketing strategy, creating flagship events, brand building and digital marketing for the ITV Network.

     

    Prior to this, Dilip was co-founder and COO of Vigovea Media, a consumer focused digital media company. She was also the vice president marketing at TV18 where she was responsible for the marketing operations of CNN-IBN and IBN7. Dilip comes with experience in the media space covering brand management and development, product development and management, strategic alliances, content development, events and experiential marketing, sales enablement and PR across various media.

     

    Speaking on her appointment, ITV Network managing director Kartikeya Sharma said, “Savvy is an outstanding addition to our leadership team and brings a unique blend of global experience and expertise to ITV Network. Her extensive background in the media industry, proven marketing expertise, and rich experience makes her the ideal person to continue to drive our brand’s growth and momentum.”

     

    “Savvy’s exceptional marketing expertise will allow us to further enhance our strategic marketing initiatives across the company,” said Arora. “With Savvy coming on board at this juncture, we really feel optimistic that this will further boost the aggressive growth track we are set to follow and will enhance our revenue stream.”

     

    Talking about her new association, Dilip said, “It is a great opportunity for me to contribute towards further consolidating and cementing ITV Network’s leadership position in the news genre. The group has tremendous impact and the company is backed by the most cohesive team in the media industry. My focus is to increase the engagement between our brands, advertisers and our viewers.”

     

    Dilip has done her executive management program from IIM-Bangalore and has completed the advanced management program from the Harvard Business School in Boston USA. 

  • Bhawana Somaaya appointed Entertainment Editor for 92.7 BIG FM

    Bhawana Somaaya appointed Entertainment Editor for 92.7 BIG FM

    MUMBAI: 92.7 BIG FM, India’s No. 1 and largest radio network, today announced the appointment of veteran journalist, critic, author and historian Bhawana Somaaya as Entertainment Editor. Bhawana-ji as she is fondly referred to in the office, has been associated with 92.7 BIG FM since 2009 in the capacity of Film Expert, sharing her credible film reviews, along with fascinating trivia on Bollywood. With this move, she will now be responsible for developing insights along with the team, delivering to audiences a more engaging and enhanced aural experience.  In her role as entertainment editor, Bhawana-ji will be an integral part of the think-tank for all entertainment related shows and activities of the business. She will also play an important part in bringing newer perspectives and providing inputs and insights on all shows related to Bollywood.

     

    Speaking of her appointment, Bhawana Somaaya stated, “RBNL is a powerful force and the organization has talent in every department. I’ve been working closely with the organization and I’m of the view that the office has a great vibe and an energetic environment. There is music all the way here, from the moment that I step out of my car till the time I’m seated inside the office. I’m grateful to have received this opportunity and I bring my sincerity to the work that this organization does. RBNL enriches my vision and I’m elated to begin my journey here and furthermore reinvent myself with a new medium and a new language.”

     

    Bhawana began her career as a reporter with Cinema Journal, an entertainment supplement of Free Press Journal back in the 70s and fast evolved into a renowned film critic in the industry. She later joined Movie as Assistant Editor and in a matter of just 4 years, she was promoted to the position of Joint Editor. Eventually she moved to Screen, the film weekly of the Indian Express Group as Editor in Chief. She has made significant contributions to the entertainment sector including writing 12 books, the last one titled Talking Cinema which released in October last year.

  • Rahul Shivshankar is now NewsX editor in chief

    Rahul Shivshankar is now NewsX editor in chief

    MUMBAI: The spate of changes at ITV Network that runs NewsX and India News continues. The latest is the elevation of current managing editor of NewsX Rahul Shivshankar to the post of editor in chief of the English news channel.

     

    He had joined NewsX in September 2013 in his second stint at the channel. Shivshankar is the face of the channel’s weekday prime time show Nation@9:00pm and India Debates.

     

    Prior to rejoining NewsX, he was executive editor of Headlines Today and senior editor at Times Now. He has also worked on the editorial page of Times of India. He has a total of 20 years of experience.

     

    Speaking on his elevation, ITV Network managing director Kartikeya Sharma said, “I am delighted to recognise the talent of Rahul Shivshankar. He is a celebrated name in the news fraternity and has an incredible drive and vision, which makes him a wonderful choice to lead the channel. Bringing in talent of the caliber of Rahul and enlarging his role, will allow Rahul and his team to accelerate our move into a continuous and dynamic model of innovating in the news genre. Under Rahul’s tenure, NewsX has become India’s leading English news channel with a consistent performance of being a market leader and in a short span time, it has attained a leadership edge over its competition and is a force to reckon with in the English news genre. Rahul has been instrumental in reorganising content strategies and news operations with greater creativity and flexibility and has developed more cohesive and unique experiences for our audiences. He’s been everything I could ever want in an editor and I cannot imagine a better choice at NewsX for editor in chief. Congratulations Rahul—you more than deserve it.” 

     

    His first stint at the channel was between 2011 and 2012. He was also one of the core members who launched Headlines Today in 2003.

     

    ITV Network group CEO RK Arora feels that this move will strengthen the network’s commitment to become India’s largest and most profitable TV news network. “We have assembled the most talented journalists in ITV Network and Rahul’s elevation as editor in chief will help us leverage his skills and experience to deliver breaking news with context and perspective on the most important stories. I am confident that Rahul will bring NewsX to greater heights than it’s ever known.”

     

    Shivshankar has extensively documented the attack on Nariman House in Mumbai on 26 November 2008 in an anthology of investigative narratives published by Roli Books.

     

    “I am deeply honored. I have been blessed with a team of incredibly talented and creative people that work tirelessly to bring to life stories told with a rare degree of nuance, objectivity and accuracy. This collective effort and enterprise has catapulted News X to a leadership position in the English news space. This role provides me with an exciting opportunity to shape the future of news TV,” said Shivshankar.

  • Vinay Tewari quits Network 18

    Vinay Tewari quits Network 18

    MUMBAI: Adding to the list of the latest exits from Network 18, CNN-IBN and IBN7 managing editor Vinay Tewari has quit the company.

     

    Confirming the news to indiantelevision.com, Tewari said that he is evaluating his future course of action. Unconfirmed media reports state that he may be joining Headlines Today.

     

    Tewari has been associated with the network for nearly a decade. Prior to that, he was with TV today for three years, The Times of India for eight years and The Pioneer. 

     

    At Network 18, he was responsible for all special projects and news gathering operations.

     

    Initially Tewari was handling just the English channel but after Ashutosh quit as managing editor of IBN7 earlier this year to join the Aam Aadmi Party, Tewari was given the mandate of the Hindi channel as well.

  • ITV Network’s RK Arora elevated to group CEO

    ITV Network’s RK Arora elevated to group CEO

    MUMBAI: ITV Network that runs news channels News X and India News has given a boost to its senior management. Current CEO of its broadcasting initiatives, RK Arora has been elevated as the group CEO of the Network.

     

    “I’m delighted to announce his well-deserved promotion,” said ITV Network managing director Kartikeya Sharma. “I am confident that with his deep industry knowledge and collegial working style, he’ll continue to strengthen ITV Network’s position in the marketplace. He has been instrumental to the highly positive momentum which ITV Network enjoys today and has in the past two years, in his capacity as CEO broadcasting, worked towards attaining leadership position for ITV network and taking it to greater heights. His astute business acumen and expertise has helped ITV Network solidify its position in the news genre. Under his tenure all our products have become market leaders and as a group we have worked hard to deliver value for our advertisers. Not only have we fulfilled our commitments, but have also delivered more than what we had targeted. With this thought process, I am sure he will achieve many more milestones. Our company’s objective is to become India’s largest TV news network and the most profitable one as well. I am sure that ITV network will definitely achieve its objectives under his leadership.”

     

    Arora will assume overall responsibility of strategic and operational management of the ITV Network and oversee the group’s diverse portfolio of assets spanning news broadcasting.

     

    Speaking on his elevation, Arora said, “I am humbled to lead ITV Network as Group CEO. In spite of challenging and demanding environment both our brands NewsX and India News have been able to carve a niche for themselves. I firmly believe that with Kartikeya’s support and ITV Network’s formidable talent, we are well poised to continue to deliver superior results in today’s increasingly competitive market and take the network to greater heights. India News and NewsX are now a preferred choice for advertisers as they are delivering strong performance week on week. In a short span of time, NewsX and India News have carved a value proposition in the mind of the advertisers and have been consistently over delivering.”

     

    Arora had taken charge of the network in 2012 after being CEO of BAG Network for nearly 2 years. Prior to that, he was the executive director and CFO at India TV. He has an experience in the industry of nearly 22 years.

     

    The ITV Network consists of News X, India News Hindi and its regional channels, Good Morning India Media and The Sunday Guardian.

  • Ratnakar Rao quits Maa TV Network

    Ratnakar Rao quits Maa TV Network

    MUMBAI: Maa TV network group head Ratnakar Rao has decided to quit the company.

     

    Speaking about his stint with the network he says, “I wanted to bring the channel to the top position, which I did. I wanted to do something big which I did by getting Meelo Evaru Koteshwarudu to the channel. Now I have decided to look for a change.”

     

    Rao hasn’t decided where will be heading next.

     

    Rao has over 30 years of experience in the field of marketing, advertising and communications. Prior to joining Maa TV, he has worked at various places such as DDB Worldwide Communications Group, RK Swamy BBDO, Landmark Group and Alghanim Industries.

  • India TV appoints Ajit Anjum as managing editor

    India TV appoints Ajit Anjum as managing editor

    MUMBAI: In a development that could further impact the equations in the Hindi news genre, Ajit Anjum, a veteran of 25 years, has joined India TV’s newsroom as Managing Editor.

     

    Anjum, who’s last stint was with BAG network as the Managing Editor of News 24 is best known for experimenting & ideating many path-breaking programs and shows like Sansani, Poll Khol & Red Alert to name a few.  At India TV, he will be reporting to Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-chief.

     

    Welcoming him, Sharma said, “Ajit is a man of ideas, a professional with tremendous energy levels. At this juncture when India TV has successfully established itself as one of the most respected news brands in the country, his entry will definitely help us consolidate our position further.”

     

    Commenting on his appointment, Anjum said, “I am thankful to India TV’s management for an opportunity as this one. All my endeavours will be to further India TV’s leadership in the Hindi News space.”

     

    A Ramnath Goenka Awardee for Political reporting in 2010, Anjum’s first major break with media was with newspaper Amar Ujala in 1990. His career has been punctuated with a couple of smaller stints with Chauthi Duniya & Aaj Tak, however, he has spent the major part of his career, almost 19 years with BAG network.

     

    Anjum has also been quite successful with his socio-political debates on News 24’s Sabse Bada Sawal, those have been almost a regular over the last one year.

     

  • Nalin Mehta joins TOI Delhi as consulting editor

    Nalin Mehta joins TOI Delhi as consulting editor

    MUMBAI: After his brief stint of seven months at Headlines Today, Nalin Mehta has now switched places as the new consulting editor of the Times of India. Mehta, who joined the organisation on 8 August, will be based out of New Delhi, highly placed sources have confirmed to indiantelevision.com.

     

    Prior to this, he was managing editor of Headlines Today. Mehta has had a long association in the media industry starting off in the broadcast media as a journalist with Zee News and then moving on to NDTV. After completion of his PhD, he became deputy news editor and prime time anchor with Times Now.

     

    By moving back to the print sector, sources say, Mehta has taken a break from the broadcast media for a while.

     

    He has also written several books on the media industry such as India on Television, Olympics: The India Story (co authored by Boria Majumdar) and Television in India. Currently, he is also working on his next untitled book.

     

    Recently, another notable anchor, CNN-IBN deputy editor Sagarika Ghose had also announced her plan to join Times of India as consulting editor from New Delhi.