ITV

Category: People

  • A+ E Networks | TV18 elevates Arun Thapar to president – content & communication

    A+ E Networks | TV18 elevates Arun Thapar to president – content & communication

    MUMBAI: A+E Networks | TV18 has promoted Arun Thapar as President – Content & Communication. In his new role, Thapar will additionally manage Brand Marketing, Digital, and Branded Content of A+E Networks | TV18 along with his current portfolio of Content Strategy Management, Creative and Production for the network.

    Commenting on the development, Avinash Kaul, Managing Director A+ E Networks | TV18 and CEO-Broadcast for Network18, said, “Arun has consistently played the role of a key growth driver for the business. His strong understanding of the genre has ensured that A+E Networks | TV18 got the required traction and also contributes positively towards the growth of factual entertainment and lifestyle genres. His expertise is central to further strengthening and expanding the A+E Networks | TV18 portfolio.”

    Under his stewardship the network has produced best-in-class originals, and broken new ground in factual entertainment, with HISTORY TV18 clocking tens of millions of views online. In the last year, FYI TV18, the network's lifestyle arm, has reigned supreme as No. 1 for over 48 consecutive weeks. Over the years, A+E Networks | TV18 originals have earned more nominations and awards than any other network in the genre.

    Prior to joining A+E Networks | TV18, Thapar was Vice President Programming at Discovery Networks Asia Pacific (South Asia), where he was responsible for overall content and creative, including originals, for the eleven-channel portfolio comprising Discovery, Animal Planet, and TLC, among others.

    His 23 years of experience and expertise covers the entire spectrum of content functions, from commissioning and creation to management, acquisition, localization and on-air delivery, across a range of genres – factual, natural history, lifestyle, animation, kids, and family entertainment as well comedy, satire, live broadcast, and current affairs.

    He is passionate about great storytelling and delivering best-in-class immersive viewing experiences. As an award-winning content leader, his body of work also includes a long list of producer, creator, and executive producer credits for many award-winning originals, made in India.

    In his new role, he will continue to report to Avinash Kaul.

  • TV18 Broadcast appoints Renuka Ramnath as additional director

    TV18 Broadcast appoints Renuka Ramnath as additional director

    MUMBAI: TV18 Broadcast Ltd has appointed Renuka Ramnath as an additional director of the company with effect from 16 July. Ramnath who is designated as independent director, has been appointed for five years.

    “We wish to inform you that the board of directors of the company at its meeting held on July 16, 2019, has inter alia approved appointment of Renuka Ramnath, as an additional director of the company with effect from July 16, 2019, designated as an Independent Director. Renuka Ramnath is appointed for five (5) years commencing July 16, 2019, subject to approval of the shareholders of the company,” the company posted in a filing on Bombay Stock Exchange.

    Ramnath has over 30 years of experience in the Indian financial sector across private equity, investment banking and structured finance. She started her career with the ICICI Group and had leadership roles in investment banking, structured finance and e-commerce. She led ICICI Venture as the MD and CEO of ICICI Venture to become one of the largest private equity funds in India.

  • Zee Media MD Ashok Venkatramani resigns

    Zee Media MD Ashok Venkatramani resigns

    MUMBAI: Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL) announced that its managing director Ashok Venkatramani has resigned, effectively immediately from 9 July. "Ashok Venkatramani has decided to pursue interest outside the company and has accordingly resigned as Managing Director of the company with effect from close of business on July 9, 2019," said ZMCL in a notice to the BSE.

    Venkatramani joined ZMCL on 2 July as MD for a period of three years. However, he has decided to quit the post within a year of appointment.

    Venkatramani is an almunus of IIM Ahmedabad and Harvard Business School. He has over three decades of experience in the FMCG and broadcasting sectors. In his last stint he was associated with ABP News Network as CEO since 2008 before joining ZMCL. He was instrumental in rebranding Star News into ABP News.
     

  • Discovery India’s Zulfia Waris quits as VP premium & digital networks

    Discovery India’s Zulfia Waris quits as VP premium & digital networks

    MUMBAI: Discovery India’s vice president – premium and digital networks Zulfia Waris has stepped down from her position, sources have told Indiantelevision.com.

    Zulfia’s portfolio included Discovery India channels across factual and lifestyle categories. Her mandate included overseeing a host of functions like product strategy, creative vision, marketing, as well as launching and executing new digital products for super fans and ultra passionate communities.

    Zulfia joined Discovery in March 2017 from Zee where she was head of programming, non-fiction, and events.

    Prior to joining Zee, she was the VP and head of development of weekend fiction and non-fiction for Star Plus for more than two years. Waris was associated with Star India in various roles. She joined Channel V in July 2008 as a senior executive producer for programming and served there for over four years.

    In 2013, she moved to head the non-fiction development for Star Network where she developed non-fiction concepts and formats with in-house teams and production houses.

  • Star India’s Gayatri Yadav steps down as president & head – consumer strategy and innovation

    Star India’s Gayatri Yadav steps down as president & head – consumer strategy and innovation

    MUMBAI: Gayatri Yadav, one of Star India’s most important executives, has decided to move on. Indiantelevision.com, through multiple sources, has learnt that September will be Gayatri’s last month with the organisation post which she is likely to pursue her entrepreneurial venture.

    “Yes. This is to confirm Gayatri, who has had a long and fruitful association with Star India, is moving on. We wish her all the best in her new venture,” a Disney spokesperson told Indiantelevision.com

    As president and head consumer strategy and innovation, Gayatri’s mandate was to drive future growth on the back of brand and marketing strategy and big data and analytics.

    Having joined the Star network in 2011 as marketing head, Gayatri has been the force behind some of Star’s most crucial and memorable campaigns and shows like the launch of Satyamev Jayate, the refresh and expansion of Star Sports, marketing launch of its streaming service Hotstar and crafting the Nayi Soch brand plan on Star Plus.

    More recently, under her leadership, Star India was first off the blocks among all major broadcasters to unleash a nation-wide marketing blitzkrieg to announce new channel pricing and packs under TRAI’s new tariff regime.

    Gayatri has over 20 years of experience in marketing across consumer products and media. She started her career at Procter and Gamble in brand management working across categories and brands and later joined General Mills where as chief marketing officer she was responsible for launching Pillsbury and mounting a strong and distinguished portfolio of brands creating various categories in the then budding packaged foods market.

  • Sangeetha Aiyer to head brand marketing at Network18 Digital

    Sangeetha Aiyer to head brand marketing at Network18 Digital

    MUMBAI: Network18 Digital has promoted Sangeetha Ayer as head of brand marketing. She will be leading Network18’s digital verticals such as moneycontrol and Firstpost among others.

    Indiantelevision.com has also learnt that Aiyer will be reporting to the company’s president—digital and corporate strategy Puneet Singhvi. 

    Aiyer commenced her career in 2006 as brand manager at Reliance Broadcast Network. After a year or so, she joined Star India as senior manager marketing at channel V. After spending eleven months at the organisation, she made her move to Times Television Network as senior manager brand and marketing. In 2011, she was the VP and head marketing at A+E Networks and later got elevated to head marketing and digital initiatives.  

    Earlier Network18 had decided to suspend the publication of the weekly newspaper Firstpost Newspaper that was launched on 26 January 2019. Network18 said in a statement that Firstpost in Print was one such experiment to provide a weekend reading experience to a different audience than online. It also mentioned that the brand has believed in constantly experimenting and re-investing itself and it has provided the company with good learning.

  • Sun TV appoints Suriyanarayanan Ramsai as national sales head–Malayalam cluster channels

    Sun TV appoints Suriyanarayanan Ramsai as national sales head–Malayalam cluster channels

    MUMBAI: Sun TV Network has appointed Suriyanarayanan Ramsai as national sales head for Malayalam cluster channels.

    Prior to this, he was with Wavemaker as general manager for almost two years. He started his career in 1999 as regional manager-North at Dinamalar.

    After his eight years of stint with the company, he joined Lintas Media Group as associate vice president. Ramsai has experience in marketing and advertising and he is specialised in the areas of media planning, marketing management, negotiation, advertising, integrated marketing and strategic planning. 

  • News18 elevates Prabal Pratap Singh to group editor of Hindi cluster

    News18 elevates Prabal Pratap Singh to group editor of Hindi cluster

    MUMBAI: News18 Network, India’s largest news network, has announced key elevations in the senior editorial team of the Hindi news cluster. Leading some of the most disruptive brands in the Hindi television news industry, the promotions recognize valuable contribution by its talent and aims to drive the next level of journalistic excellence.

    With an aim to build the Hindi cluster of the News18 Network as the most influential voice across the key markets, Prabal Pratap Singh has been elevated to Group Editor, Hindi Cluster. Prabal has been instrumental in reshaping News18 India which has disrupted the industry. In his new role, he will lead the editorial strategy across all the Hindi news channels to deliver seamless yet distinct experiences across the channels based on a deep understanding of the brand to elevate the offerings to the viewers. 

    Kishore Ajwani, currently the Deputy Managing Editor of News18 India and one of the most popular faces of the Hindi news prime-time, has been named the Managing Editor of the channel. Over the last few years, Kishore has played a significant role in transforming the brand which has now even toppled the market leader to become the top choice of the viewers in the urban market. In addition to his current role of leading the output function, he will now be managing all the key functions such as input, output, production and assignment. He will report to Prabal Pratap Singh.

    Amish Devgan, who has been leading the prime time with his explosive shows such as ‘Aar Paar’ on News18 India and ‘Takkar’ on CNBC Awaaz has been promoted to Managing Editor of News18 Uttar Pradesh, News18 Madhya Pradesh and News18 Rajasthan. He has been tasked with the additional responsibility of further strengthening the regional Hindi news channels.

    News18 Network has also given additional responsibilities to Brajesh Kumar Singh, Consulting Editor. He will now lead News18 Gujarat and News18 Bihar.

  • DD News English to hire 90 people

    DD News English to hire 90 people

    MUMBAI: DD News English is expanding its workforce and has announced vacancies for around 90 posts including anchors and reporters.

    Out of the posts announced, three are for grade 1 anchor-cum-correspondent, three for grade 2, and 4 for grade 3 in the same department. Apart from that, posts for copy editors, assignment coordinators, and correspondents have also been announced as vacant.

    Public service broadcaster Prasar Bharati released the application forms on its site for several positions on an annual contract basis across the news department for the channel on 24 June. The last date of application is 12 July.

  • Hotstar appoints Sudhir Mantena as VP growth

    Hotstar appoints Sudhir Mantena as VP growth

    MUMBAI: Star India’s OTT platform– Hotstar has recently appointed Sudhir Mantena as vice president growth. Prior to joining Hotstar, he worked with Cleartrip.com as director product management and served the company for almost four years.

    Mantena commenced his career in 2001 at Intel as an engineer. After his five-months stint at the company he joined Bloomberg in 2002 as software engineer, product manager. Spending almost four years with the company, he was the founder at NIDM. He then became the co-founder and product head at MetroMela.

    In 2010, he then joined Bizgain as co-founder and product head. His next move was in 2014 at The Founder Institute as mentor. After gaining seven months of experience, Mantena joined Startup Weekend as business coach.