ITV

Category: People

  • Producers Guild of India elects Shibasish Sarkar as president

    Producers Guild of India elects Shibasish Sarkar as president

    Mumbai: Shibasish Sarkar was unanimously elected as president of the Producers Guild of India at the first meeting of its newly constituted Guild Council of Management, which was held immediately after the 68th annual general meeting on 21 September.

    Shibasish is currently the chairman and CEO of International Media Acquisition. His most recent position was as group CEO of Reliance Entertainment, which is part of the Reliance ADA group.

    President-elect Shibasish Sarkar said, “In his six years as guild president, Siddharth has been a tireless, passionate, and committed champion for our industry at a time of unprecedented challenges. I look forward to building on what he has accomplished and working alongside my colleagues to help address the challenges and build on the opportunities we have before us as an industry.”

    Shibasish Sarkar is a media and entertainment industry professional with over 29 years of corporate experience in multiple verticals such as films, television, animation, gaming content, and digital & new media platform operations.

    Welcoming the president-elect, the incumbent president Siddharth Roy Kapur said, “It has been a pleasure and an honour to serve the production fraternity and I am delighted to pass the baton on to the able hands of Shibasish. I am sure he will do a stellar job and add further lustre to the Guild’s reputation for spearheading the industry’s interests.”

    Shibasish was a member of the senior leadership team and served as a director and member of the board of several group companies.

    He has held senior positions at Viacom 18, UTV Disney, and Godrej Sara Lee prior to joining Reliance, with a focus on establishing a new business, scaling up operations, and driving sustainable growth through key alliances, managing stakeholders, talent partners, and cross-functional teams.

    His academic credentials include being a certified chartered accountant, a cost accountant, a company secretary, and an MBA with a marketing specialisation.

  • Times Network appoints Rohit Chadda as president and COO of its digital business

    Times Network appoints Rohit Chadda as president and COO of its digital business

    Mumbai: Times Network has announced the appointments of Rohit Chadda as president and COO-digital business and Vinay Sarawagi as senior vice president of digital content.

    Rohit Chadda will lead the network’s digital operations and oversee product strategy, audience development, and operations planning for the digital businesses in his new role. In addition, he will collaborate closely with the network’s leadership team to drive the company’s overall digital transformation efforts and scale the business.

    Rohit is an award-winning entrepreneur and a seasoned and versatile professional with nearly two decades of experience in e-commerce, technology, fintech, media & entertainment, and OTT.

    Vinay Sarawagi will spearhead the overall content segment of the network’s digital business across platforms, playing a critical role in leading an innovative content strategy for the network’s digital arm, Timesnownews.com, and further boosting the network’s digital assets.

    Vinay is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in traditional and digital media. Vinay was previously responsible for developing a broadcast brand’s brand and audience, business strategy, and operations.

    Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand said, “We have been making concerted efforts in building our digital prowess to cater to an expanding user base across platforms. I am pleased to welcome Rohit and Vinay to the team, who bring expertise in driving successful digital strategy across business development and content innovation. I am confident they will be valuable additions in supporting our ambitious growth plans and help us scale new heights.”

    Speaking on his appointment, Rohit Chadda said, “I’m delighted to join Times Network to helm their digital mandate. My efforts will be to create new opportunities, capitalise on emerging trends and strengthen the network’s digital assets to facilitate its transformation to a digital-first organisation.”

    Speaking on his appointment, Vinay Sarawagi said, “I’m excited to join India’s most influential news network. At Times Network, audiences are at the heart of everything, and the unmatched brand connection with the viewers will continue to differentiate the network brands from the noise. I look forward to taking on this new role and synchronising my efforts to ensure that our audiences across mediums, formats and languages are served with unputdownable content, all day, every day.”

  • 9X Media’s Bhupendra Makhi starts his new innings as CEO

    9X Media’s Bhupendra Makhi starts his new innings as CEO

    Mumbai: The largest music broadcaster, 9X Media has elevated Bhupendra Makhi to the position of chief executive officer (CEO). The new role allows him to spearhead strategic business developments for the company. His vivid experience will facilitate strengthening the company’s objectives and focus on areas to build business for the long term. Having a proven track record of producing excellent results, he will focus to embark on a new journey and take 9X Media to a higher level of growth by engaging audiences through its disruptive content.

    Bhupendra brings extensive knowledge of the financial sector as well as an impressive track record in the media & entertainment industry.

    During his long tenure with 9X, Bhupendra was also the company’s chief financial officer (CFO), having risen through the ranks from vice-president of finance. He has been with the company since 2007.

    Commenting on his elevation as CEO, Bhupendra Makhi said, “I am grateful to our investors and the board for entrusting me with this role. 9X Media has reached an important stage, having met significant milestones, and achieving positive performance. We remain highly encouraged and I look forward to continuing to work closely with all the teams for the benefit of the company and creating value for our stakeholders.”

  • It’s Network18 ahoy for Palki Sharma as managing editor

    It’s Network18 ahoy for Palki Sharma as managing editor

    Mumbai : She built her name as a savvy on-air anchor on the programme Gravitas and as managing editor of Zee Media’s English news channel Wion. Now Palki Sharma has hopped on to Network18 Media as managing editor. She will be heading a new video project which is slated to be multi-platform. This will be her second stint at Network18, where she has previously worked in various capacities.

    “I am excited to join hands with Network18, India’s largest news network, to launch a futuristic project with a global footprint, that will transform the news experience and make India proud,” says Sharma. “It will be a content innovation lab that challenges traditional news formats and experiments with the latest technology and interactive tools to make news stories intelligent, interesting, and accessible for the global audience.”  

    Sharma will build and direct a video project that will cover all aspects of news reporting and presentation. The news product will aim to attract a new generation of viewers for the company.

    Adds Network18 group business news CEO Smriti Mehra: “Palki is a distinctive journalist and editor, thanks to her persona, voice, and audience connect.”  

    She further adds: “The news product she will lead will cater to audiences across platforms. It will help the network expand its footprint, along with imagining new formats of showcasing news content.”

    Sharma has over 21 years of experience in media, having worked for the ITV Network, Network18, Doordarshan News, and The Hindustan Times.

    Gravitas, a popular prime-time English news program, as well as the highly regarded digital program Gravitas Plus on Wion, were both hosted by her. She also created and oversaw the Wion Global Summit, an annual channel event held in Dubai.

    Palki has interviewed several national and international heads of state during her two-decade career. She has also covered major stories and events on the ground, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Quad Summits in Tokyo and Washington, DC, and many more.

  • Rajat Sharma to relinquish the presidentship of NBDA

    Rajat Sharma to relinquish the presidentship of NBDA

    Mumbai: India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma has decided to relinquish the presidentship of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA). Currently, ABP Network’s CEO Avinash Pandey has taken over the reins of NBDA. 

    In addition to this, MV Shreyams Kumar will take over as vice president & Anuradha Prasad Shukla will be the new treasurer of the broadcasters association. 

    The NBDA is the country’s largest news broadcasting organisation, representing nearly all of the country’s major news networks.

    In a voluntary decision, Sharma, who has led news broadcasters’ largest body for the last six years, is likely to convey to the board his desire to focus his energies on creating new shows.

    Rajat Sharma is likely to revive his iconic show Aap Ki Adalat soon.

    During his tenure as president of the NBDA, Sharma led the broadcast industry, attempting to make it more accepting of newcomers and promote healthy competition.

    On 13 August 2021, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), India’s largest body of news broadcasters, changed its name to the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA).

    The NBDA is committed to editorial standards that ensure objectivity, neutrality, fairness, and accuracy in reporting.

  • MM TV appoints Smitha Narayanan as new sales & marketing head

    MM TV appoints Smitha Narayanan as new sales & marketing head

    Mumbai: The largest media network in South India, MM TV has appointed Smitha Narayanan as the new sales & marketing head. She will be overseeing the operations of its three channels – Mazhavil Manorama, Manorama News and ManoramaMAX OTT.

    Having over 18 years of experience, Smitha was associated with several blue-chip companies like Colgate, Palmolive, Dell Computers, Britannia Industries and Wipro Enterprises. She has played a crucial role in strategising sales, branding and product functions at these companies in various capacities. Prior to her association with MM TV, Smitha was with Wipro Yardley, a Middle East business based out of Dubai.

    Speaking on the appointment, MM TV CEO Satheesh PR said, “Having worked with brands across various markets, Smitha brings in her rich diversity and insight. We are happy to welcome her into MM TV’s senior leadership team and look forward to her contribution to strengthening our vision and pursuing our goals”.

    She is a graduate of IIM Lucknow and has the experience that can take MM TV to great heights.

  • News Nation appoints Anita Khanna as senior vice president & network sales head West

    News Nation appoints Anita Khanna as senior vice president & network sales head West

    Mumbai: News Nation Network has appointed Anita Khanna as senior vice president and network sales head for the West. In her new roles, she will be responsible for the performance of all revenue-generating avenues; drive growth through strategic decisions; partner with key stakeholders and steer revenue acceleration.

    Prior to this, Anita Khanna was vice president of sales for TV Today Network. She was an integral part of the original team to see through the launch of Aaj Tak. She grew the market in the West from scratch to its success. Anita is a well-known media professional with over two decades of experience and a unique, relationship-driven personal approach with clients, advertising agencies, and with her team.

    Speaking about her new position, Anita Khanna said, “It gives me great pleasure to join the enthusiastic and aggressive team of News Nation Network. The brand is already well established and I look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to achieve long-term goals.”

    On her appointment, News Nation Network chief business officer Bhuwan Bhatt said, “Inclusion of Anita will further strengthen the national team as well as the growth of our west region. We are immensely hopeful that Anita will bring huge value to the organisation with her leadership and interpersonal skills. We look forward to driving growth of all the brands with each passing day in their role.”

    News Nation Network executive vice president and national head of sales Vivek Makkar added, “Joining of Anita will give a strong boost to the revenue potential of the network. I’m confident that, as a seasoned professional, Anita will scale new heights.”

  • Sony Pictures International Productions India elevates Ritesh Arora as the head of business affairs

    Sony Pictures International Productions India elevates Ritesh Arora as the head of business affairs

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures International Productions (SPIP) India has elevated Ritesh Arora as the head of business affairs. Ritesh will oversee commercials and project acquisitions at SPIP India, as well as work to maximise revenue potential. He will report to  SPIP India general manager & head Lada Guruden Singh.

    Ritesh has been with Sony Pictures since 2015 and was most recently in charge of commercials and acquisitions. He has over two decades of experience in exhibition, distribution, and content acquisition.

    Ritesh Arora said, “It will be really exciting to look at new business development opportunities and also align them to the financial and growth targets of the company. Sony Pictures International Productions has made huge strides in India and to now deliver even more diverse and multilingual stories to Indian audiences across all formats is our dream.”

    SPIP, co-headed by Shebnem Askin and Michael Rifkin, is the local-language production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group, which releases more than 30 films per year across 12 territories worldwide.

  • Saugata Mukherjee rejoins SonyLIV as content head

    Saugata Mukherjee rejoins SonyLIV as content head

    Mumbai: Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) has appointed Saugata Mukherjee as head of content for SonyLIV.

    In his new role, Saugata will lead the content division for Sony digital businesses.

    He will report to Sony LIV, Sony Entertainment Television (SET), and Studio Next business head Danish Khan.

    Mukherjee said, “I have witnessed the platform’s growth and am proud to be part of its growth story once again. SonyLIV has always pushed the boundaries of content by telling stories that have never been told, explored, or shown before, making my role a challenging but exciting one.”

    A media and entertainment industry veteran, Saugata has over two decades of experience. Saugata has previously led content teams for prestigious media conglomerates. He recently left Warner Bros. Discovery, where he was HBO Max content head.

    Warner Bros Discovery puts HBO Max launch in India on hold

    In his previous stint with Sony Pictures Networks India, he worked as SonyLIV’s original content head for one year, where he was looking after content commissioning, developing, producing, and curating the premium content for the platform.

    He has also worked with Disney+ Hotstar for almost two years, where he was head of development and creative for Hotstar Specials.

    At Star TV Network, he was senior vice president and editor of the content studio for five years.

    He is an alumnus of the Indian School of Business and Jawaharlal Nehru University.

  • Wion managing editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay quits

    Wion managing editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay quits

    Mumbai: English news broadcaster Wion on Friday said its managing editor, Palki Sharma Upadhyay, has quit. She announced her resignation in a meeting with the Wion team held on Friday at 2 p.m.

    Sharing the news, journalist and TV anchor Vir Sanghvi wrote on Twitter: “A great loss to Wion & a huge coup for whichever channel lands her.”

    Upadhyay was associated with the news broadcaster for over five years. She joined as an executive editor and was promoted to be the managing editor of the channel in May 2022. She was hosting the prime-time news programme Gravitas.

    Prior to Wion, Upadhyay was associated with iTV Network and CNN-IBN as anchor and senior editor.

    Upadhyay has been at the forefront of covering news from all over the world for more than 20 years in the field of journalism. Not only have viewers from all over the world praised her reporting on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, but also world leaders like Dr. Igor Polikha, the Ukrainian ambassador to India.