ITV

Category: People

  • Rahul Shivshankar new Times Now editor-in-chief?

    Rahul Shivshankar new Times Now editor-in-chief?

    MUMBAI: The ever-growing speculation that ensued after Times Now’s editor-in-chief quit the channel last month has finally been laid to rest. If industry sources are to be believed, then Times Network has found a replacement for Arnab Goswami in NewsX editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar, who might fill in Goswami’s shoes at Times Now.

    NewsX’s executive producer Chandi Ahlawat Dabas shared the information through a tweet: “Rahul Shivshankar moves on from NewsX. Will be shortly joining Times Now as Chief Editor. #Breaking and #Confirmed”, as reported by oneindia.com.

    While Shivshankar has confirmed that he has stepped down from his current role in NewsX to the media, he refrained from commenting on the prospect of rejoining Times Now.

    Shivshankar was often considered as Goswami’s right hand man during his earlier stint as the senior editorial at Times Now before he quit. He was a part of the launch team of Headlines Today in 2003. Since then, he has worked with Times Now, India Today and NewsX.

    In 2013, he joined NewsX as the managing editor, which was his second stint with the channel. In August 2014, he was made the editor-in-chief of the channel.

    Now that he is rumoured to take on the role of editor-in-chief at Times Now, would Shivshankar also moderate the channel’s flagship prime time debate show ‘ News Hour?’

  • Rahul Shivshankar new Times Now editor-in-chief?

    Rahul Shivshankar new Times Now editor-in-chief?

    MUMBAI: The ever-growing speculation that ensued after Times Now’s editor-in-chief quit the channel last month has finally been laid to rest. If industry sources are to be believed, then Times Network has found a replacement for Arnab Goswami in NewsX editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar, who might fill in Goswami’s shoes at Times Now.

    NewsX’s executive producer Chandi Ahlawat Dabas shared the information through a tweet: “Rahul Shivshankar moves on from NewsX. Will be shortly joining Times Now as Chief Editor. #Breaking and #Confirmed”, as reported by oneindia.com.

    While Shivshankar has confirmed that he has stepped down from his current role in NewsX to the media, he refrained from commenting on the prospect of rejoining Times Now.

    Shivshankar was often considered as Goswami’s right hand man during his earlier stint as the senior editorial at Times Now before he quit. He was a part of the launch team of Headlines Today in 2003. Since then, he has worked with Times Now, India Today and NewsX.

    In 2013, he joined NewsX as the managing editor, which was his second stint with the channel. In August 2014, he was made the editor-in-chief of the channel.

    Now that he is rumoured to take on the role of editor-in-chief at Times Now, would Shivshankar also moderate the channel’s flagship prime time debate show ‘ News Hour?’

  • Nikhil Wagle exits ‘Maharashtra One’

    Nikhil Wagle exits ‘Maharashtra One’

    MUMBAI: The game of musical chairs in the Indian TV news channel business continues. Over the last couple of months there have been many a high-profile exits and reshuffles such as Arnab Goswami, Vikram Chandra, and now Rahul Shivshankar, etc.

    It has come to our knowledge that the renowned journalist Nikhil Wagle has exited from Marathi news channel, Maharahtra One. After serving the channel as its editor-in-chief for almost a year, Wagle is out of the channel.

    The channel is a part of Sadhna Group subsidiary Sharp Eye Advertising, which owns and operates Sadhna News, Sadhna Bihar/Jharkhand, and Sadhna Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh.

    Replacing Wagle as the executive editor is Ashish Jadhav who was the channel’s political editor. According to a source from the channel, Jadhav’s name was recommended by Wagle.

    It is rumoured that Wagle was asked to leave after he asked Hindu Sanatan Sanstha’s office-bearer Abhay Vartak to get out of his show, Aajcha Sawaal. Wagle had received several threats from the Sanathan Sanstha last year.

    Another source from the channel however rubbished sacking information, “There were differences between Nikhil and the management owing to which he decided to resign. The decision of parting ways was taken with mutual understanding.”

    Wagle’s next move is not yet clear but people close to him said he will concentrate on writing a book which has been pending from sometime.

  • Nikhil Wagle exits ‘Maharashtra One’

    Nikhil Wagle exits ‘Maharashtra One’

    MUMBAI: The game of musical chairs in the Indian TV news channel business continues. Over the last couple of months there have been many a high-profile exits and reshuffles such as Arnab Goswami, Vikram Chandra, and now Rahul Shivshankar, etc.

    It has come to our knowledge that the renowned journalist Nikhil Wagle has exited from Marathi news channel, Maharahtra One. After serving the channel as its editor-in-chief for almost a year, Wagle is out of the channel.

    The channel is a part of Sadhna Group subsidiary Sharp Eye Advertising, which owns and operates Sadhna News, Sadhna Bihar/Jharkhand, and Sadhna Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh.

    Replacing Wagle as the executive editor is Ashish Jadhav who was the channel’s political editor. According to a source from the channel, Jadhav’s name was recommended by Wagle.

    It is rumoured that Wagle was asked to leave after he asked Hindu Sanatan Sanstha’s office-bearer Abhay Vartak to get out of his show, Aajcha Sawaal. Wagle had received several threats from the Sanathan Sanstha last year.

    Another source from the channel however rubbished sacking information, “There were differences between Nikhil and the management owing to which he decided to resign. The decision of parting ways was taken with mutual understanding.”

    Wagle’s next move is not yet clear but people close to him said he will concentrate on writing a book which has been pending from sometime.

  • Sameer Rao joining Discovery in senior role

    Sameer Rao joining Discovery in senior role

    MUMBAI: Sameer Rao, who was the creative director at UTV Studios in Mumbai, will be joining Discovery Channel, the flagship network of Discovery Communications, in a senior position this week. A source confirmed the news of Rao’s move to one of the most dynamic networks on television which is devoted to creating quality non-fiction programming.

    Although the alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, is reportedly joining Discovery formally on 25 November, his official designation could not be confirmed.

    It was later made official that Rao joined as vice-president – real world products, south Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.

    Prior to joining UTV in May last year where he conceptualised, ideated and developed scripts with screenwriters and directors, did cost/revenue analysis before approving feature film projects and oversaw pre-production, production, post-production and marketing of Hindi feature films, Rao worked with the acclaimed writer-director-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s production company for over four years since November 2010 as the business head for films such as ‘3 Idiots’, Munna Bhai series and P.K.

    Before joining Chopra, Rao invested over six years in Star India from January 2005 to November 2010, starting as an assistant vice-president and rising up to the level of general manager, where his responsibilities included management of the overall channel team involved in acquisition of movies, programming of slots, marketing and promotion and working with the ad sales team on revenue maximisation.

    The trained chartered accountant was, earlier, the associate director at KPMG for two years. Later, he worked as a consultant to Arthur Anderson and then as the UBS AG manager.

  • Sameer Rao joining Discovery in senior role

    Sameer Rao joining Discovery in senior role

    MUMBAI: Sameer Rao, who was the creative director at UTV Studios in Mumbai, will be joining Discovery Channel, the flagship network of Discovery Communications, in a senior position this week. A source confirmed the news of Rao’s move to one of the most dynamic networks on television which is devoted to creating quality non-fiction programming.

    Although the alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, is reportedly joining Discovery formally on 25 November, his official designation could not be confirmed.

    It was later made official that Rao joined as vice-president – real world products, south Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.

    Prior to joining UTV in May last year where he conceptualised, ideated and developed scripts with screenwriters and directors, did cost/revenue analysis before approving feature film projects and oversaw pre-production, production, post-production and marketing of Hindi feature films, Rao worked with the acclaimed writer-director-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s production company for over four years since November 2010 as the business head for films such as ‘3 Idiots’, Munna Bhai series and P.K.

    Before joining Chopra, Rao invested over six years in Star India from January 2005 to November 2010, starting as an assistant vice-president and rising up to the level of general manager, where his responsibilities included management of the overall channel team involved in acquisition of movies, programming of slots, marketing and promotion and working with the ad sales team on revenue maximisation.

    The trained chartered accountant was, earlier, the associate director at KPMG for two years. Later, he worked as a consultant to Arthur Anderson and then as the UBS AG manager.

  • Priyanka Chopra’s production house appoints Petrina D’Rozario as COO

    Priyanka Chopra’s production house appoints Petrina D’Rozario as COO

    MUMBAI: Priyanka Chopra’s production house Purple Pebble Pictures has appointed Petrina D’rozario as the chief operating officer (COO). The production house has been jointly set up by Chopra and Dr. Madhu Chopra with an aim to produce good quality content across films (regional and mainstream) television and digital space.

    D’rozario, in her new role, will oversee the content that comes into Purple Pebble and identify the right partners to work with who have the passion in the business of storytelling. She would also help develop business across the verticals and oversee the structure and day to day operations. Along with this, she will also be managing existing teams at Purple Pebble and develop IP across the verticals.

    Petrina spearheads the shaping of WIFT India (www.wift.co.in) and is responsible for the development of the chapter’s strategy, network and aim to enhance the visibility of women working in film & television. She also sits on the board as the Founder President of WIFT India and on the International Board of WIFT (L.A) in the Communications and Marketing committee.

    Speaking about her new role, D’Rozario said, “WIFT India was a great platform for me to meet some amazing talent from the industry. I have personally met people who have had scripts and asked for help to meet the right producers. Hopefully, I being in a position of whetting projects at Purple Pebble, can encourage some of these talented storytellers to reach out to me.”

    Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Madhu Chopra said, “Purple Pebble Pictures is a start-up production house with the heart of a lion. Fearless to explore and work on films across genres and languages. We have just started and have already completed two feature films. Our third film `Sarvann’ is due to release in December. Petrina joins us at the crux of imbibing a corporate culture to our modus operandi and with her experience we hope Purple Pebble Pictures becomes a production house that has the working style of a corporate and heart of a home especially to talent that needs a platform to showcase their abilities.”

  • Priyanka Chopra’s production house appoints Petrina D’Rozario as COO

    Priyanka Chopra’s production house appoints Petrina D’Rozario as COO

    MUMBAI: Priyanka Chopra’s production house Purple Pebble Pictures has appointed Petrina D’rozario as the chief operating officer (COO). The production house has been jointly set up by Chopra and Dr. Madhu Chopra with an aim to produce good quality content across films (regional and mainstream) television and digital space.

    D’rozario, in her new role, will oversee the content that comes into Purple Pebble and identify the right partners to work with who have the passion in the business of storytelling. She would also help develop business across the verticals and oversee the structure and day to day operations. Along with this, she will also be managing existing teams at Purple Pebble and develop IP across the verticals.

    Petrina spearheads the shaping of WIFT India (www.wift.co.in) and is responsible for the development of the chapter’s strategy, network and aim to enhance the visibility of women working in film & television. She also sits on the board as the Founder President of WIFT India and on the International Board of WIFT (L.A) in the Communications and Marketing committee.

    Speaking about her new role, D’Rozario said, “WIFT India was a great platform for me to meet some amazing talent from the industry. I have personally met people who have had scripts and asked for help to meet the right producers. Hopefully, I being in a position of whetting projects at Purple Pebble, can encourage some of these talented storytellers to reach out to me.”

    Commenting on the appointment, Dr. Madhu Chopra said, “Purple Pebble Pictures is a start-up production house with the heart of a lion. Fearless to explore and work on films across genres and languages. We have just started and have already completed two feature films. Our third film `Sarvann’ is due to release in December. Petrina joins us at the crux of imbibing a corporate culture to our modus operandi and with her experience we hope Purple Pebble Pictures becomes a production house that has the working style of a corporate and heart of a home especially to talent that needs a platform to showcase their abilities.”

  • &TV’s Vikas Gupta heads for a new adventure

    &TV’s Vikas Gupta heads for a new adventure

    MUMBAI: Vikas Gupta has quit as the head of &TV programming. After serving a six-month notice, he has moved on. Gupta joined the channel on 1 September, 2015, and was reporting to &TV business head Rajesh Iyer.

    Confirming the news to Indiantelevision.com, Gupta mentioned, “While there were rumours that I left all of a sudden, I served two months in addition to my notice period. I have had an amazing time working with &TV. We have done such wonderful shows such as Santoshi Maa, Badho Bahu and Gangaa together, which I am leaving behind. I wish &TV all the best!.” Gupta also posted on a social media platform: “& I pack my bags for my next adventure.”

    Gupta started his career as a trainee with Balaji Telefilms and moved on to DJ’s Creative Unit as the associate creative head. He went back to Balaji Telefilms as the associate creative director and was involved with shows such as Kis Desh Main Hai Meraa Dil and Kitni Mohabbat Hai. He worked as MTV India programming head from February 2014 to December 2014.

    Interestingly, the TV fraternity also recognises him as the youngest creative director of the industry. He entered the industry at a young age of 19. After gathering significant experience, he turned to production and started his own production house — Lost Boy Productions — almost four years ago. Over the last three years, Lost Boy has produced shows such as Channel [V]’s Gumrah and The Serial (co-produced with Balaji Telefilms); as well as Bindass’ Yeh Hai Aashiqui.

  • &TV’s Vikas Gupta heads for a new adventure

    &TV’s Vikas Gupta heads for a new adventure

    MUMBAI: Vikas Gupta has quit as the head of &TV programming. After serving a six-month notice, he has moved on. Gupta joined the channel on 1 September, 2015, and was reporting to &TV business head Rajesh Iyer.

    Confirming the news to Indiantelevision.com, Gupta mentioned, “While there were rumours that I left all of a sudden, I served two months in addition to my notice period. I have had an amazing time working with &TV. We have done such wonderful shows such as Santoshi Maa, Badho Bahu and Gangaa together, which I am leaving behind. I wish &TV all the best!.” Gupta also posted on a social media platform: “& I pack my bags for my next adventure.”

    Gupta started his career as a trainee with Balaji Telefilms and moved on to DJ’s Creative Unit as the associate creative head. He went back to Balaji Telefilms as the associate creative director and was involved with shows such as Kis Desh Main Hai Meraa Dil and Kitni Mohabbat Hai. He worked as MTV India programming head from February 2014 to December 2014.

    Interestingly, the TV fraternity also recognises him as the youngest creative director of the industry. He entered the industry at a young age of 19. After gathering significant experience, he turned to production and started his own production house — Lost Boy Productions — almost four years ago. Over the last three years, Lost Boy has produced shows such as Channel [V]’s Gumrah and The Serial (co-produced with Balaji Telefilms); as well as Bindass’ Yeh Hai Aashiqui.