ITV

Category: People

  • Headhunt on for Siddharth Roy Kapur replacement

    Headhunt on for Siddharth Roy Kapur replacement

    MUMBAI: Rumours have been floating for the last fortnight around about the departure of Disney India managing director Siddharth Roy Kapur to get into film production.

    The fact is that Sid – as he is known in media circles – had expressed his desire to discontinue with the company a while ago. And Walt Disney International chairman Andy Bird has sent out a mandate to zoom in on a replacement. The HR team at Walt Disney International too has been working on the search.

    Sid joined UTV when it was run by Ronnie Screwvala in 2008. UTV was acquired by Disney and was integrated into its Indian operations. Sid took over as MD of Disney India in 2014.

    Even senior management within the Indian offshoot are unclear about the way forward on the leadership of the company as no mails have allegedly been sent out either from Walt Disney International to the India team clarifying Kapur’s position and departure dates, claim insiders within Disney India.

  • Headhunt on for Siddharth Roy Kapur replacement

    Headhunt on for Siddharth Roy Kapur replacement

    MUMBAI: Rumours have been floating for the last fortnight around about the departure of Disney India managing director Siddharth Roy Kapur to get into film production.

    The fact is that Sid – as he is known in media circles – had expressed his desire to discontinue with the company a while ago. And Walt Disney International chairman Andy Bird has sent out a mandate to zoom in on a replacement. The HR team at Walt Disney International too has been working on the search.

    Sid joined UTV when it was run by Ronnie Screwvala in 2008. UTV was acquired by Disney and was integrated into its Indian operations. Sid took over as MD of Disney India in 2014.

    Even senior management within the Indian offshoot are unclear about the way forward on the leadership of the company as no mails have allegedly been sent out either from Walt Disney International to the India team clarifying Kapur’s position and departure dates, claim insiders within Disney India.

  • A+E Networks|TV18 appoints Arun Thapar as executive vice president & head -content

    A+E Networks|TV18 appoints Arun Thapar as executive vice president & head -content

    MUMBAI: A+E Networks|TV18 has appointed Arun Thapar as Executive Vice President & Head- Content. The announcement was made today by Avinash Kaul, Managing Director, A+E Networks | TV18 and President – Strategy, Product & Alliances – Network18 to whom Arun reports.

    Arun is responsible for driving the content strategy, creative and all programming-related objectives for the network: its flagship channel History TV18 and the recently launched FYI TV18.

    Avinash Kaul said: “Arun brings with him a rich experience in the factual and lifestyle entertainment space that makes him well suited to strategize content for our channels. He has thorough understanding of the culture and ground realities of content consumption in India as well as the Asia Pacific region, which I believe will go a long way in rendering a great experience to our audiences. We are in a period of transformation of broadcast content and I believe this to be the right time to re-invent and strengthen the offerings to the ever evolving audiences. With the launch of FYI TV18, we now have various niches to explore and together with History TV18, we aim to offer our audiences an unflinching television and digital experience.”

    Arun is an industry veteran with over twenty years of vast experience in production and programming across organisations like Discovery and NDTV. He has a proven track record in formulating program strategy to ensure disciplined execution.

  • A+E Networks|TV18 appoints Arun Thapar as executive vice president & head -content

    A+E Networks|TV18 appoints Arun Thapar as executive vice president & head -content

    MUMBAI: A+E Networks|TV18 has appointed Arun Thapar as Executive Vice President & Head- Content. The announcement was made today by Avinash Kaul, Managing Director, A+E Networks | TV18 and President – Strategy, Product & Alliances – Network18 to whom Arun reports.

    Arun is responsible for driving the content strategy, creative and all programming-related objectives for the network: its flagship channel History TV18 and the recently launched FYI TV18.

    Avinash Kaul said: “Arun brings with him a rich experience in the factual and lifestyle entertainment space that makes him well suited to strategize content for our channels. He has thorough understanding of the culture and ground realities of content consumption in India as well as the Asia Pacific region, which I believe will go a long way in rendering a great experience to our audiences. We are in a period of transformation of broadcast content and I believe this to be the right time to re-invent and strengthen the offerings to the ever evolving audiences. With the launch of FYI TV18, we now have various niches to explore and together with History TV18, we aim to offer our audiences an unflinching television and digital experience.”

    Arun is an industry veteran with over twenty years of vast experience in production and programming across organisations like Discovery and NDTV. He has a proven track record in formulating program strategy to ensure disciplined execution.

  • ESPN ropes in Jasdeep Pannu as India TV initiatives head

    ESPN ropes in Jasdeep Pannu as India TV initiatives head

    MUMBAI: Leading global sports network ESPN is slowly but steadily rebuilding itself in the Indian television space, after exiting its 50:50 sports broadcasting joint venture with Star India in 2012.

    Last year, it bounced back into the Indian television ecosystem in a partnership with Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) in an initiative that would see it giving birth to many channels, new program, online initiatives, among other things. At least that’s what MSM India CEO NP Singh and ESPN international Executive vice-president and managing director Russell Wolff had stated at the time of the launch of the new venture.

    January 2016 saw Sony Kix being rebranded as Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD, the first of the many channels the two want to launch in India.

    As a first step on the talent front, ESPN has brought in sports television veteran Jasdeep Pannu as head of its TV initiatives in India. Pannu joined the company in July 2016 but has been working in a low key manner since then.

    For the programming vet, it is a home coming of sorts. In an earlier innings with Sony Entertainment Television, according to information available with indiantelevision.com, he was senior vice-president and head of programming for its Max channel. At Max, he led a 150-strong content development and execution team on the IPL to present cricket as an entertainment experience and won multiple awards for best programming. He developed the team from ground-up, enabled disruptive thinking and innovative execution. He was one of the key executives involved in the positioning of the IPL as an inclusive sports event for mass audiences. Expanded audience share among women and younger viewers, increased reach by over 20 million viewers.

    He followed that with a year or so long stint with Star Sports wherein he worked on integrating the ESPN sports production team into the new post-merger sports network’s team structure. He hired a 150-person team in six weeks – drove the organisational design process obtaining management and HR approvals.

    His last assignment prior to joining ESPN, was with A&E Networks as the EVP and head of content for ten months.

  • ESPN ropes in Jasdeep Pannu as India TV initiatives head

    ESPN ropes in Jasdeep Pannu as India TV initiatives head

    MUMBAI: Leading global sports network ESPN is slowly but steadily rebuilding itself in the Indian television space, after exiting its 50:50 sports broadcasting joint venture with Star India in 2012.

    Last year, it bounced back into the Indian television ecosystem in a partnership with Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) in an initiative that would see it giving birth to many channels, new program, online initiatives, among other things. At least that’s what MSM India CEO NP Singh and ESPN international Executive vice-president and managing director Russell Wolff had stated at the time of the launch of the new venture.

    January 2016 saw Sony Kix being rebranded as Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD, the first of the many channels the two want to launch in India.

    As a first step on the talent front, ESPN has brought in sports television veteran Jasdeep Pannu as head of its TV initiatives in India. Pannu joined the company in July 2016 but has been working in a low key manner since then.

    For the programming vet, it is a home coming of sorts. In an earlier innings with Sony Entertainment Television, according to information available with indiantelevision.com, he was senior vice-president and head of programming for its Max channel. At Max, he led a 150-strong content development and execution team on the IPL to present cricket as an entertainment experience and won multiple awards for best programming. He developed the team from ground-up, enabled disruptive thinking and innovative execution. He was one of the key executives involved in the positioning of the IPL as an inclusive sports event for mass audiences. Expanded audience share among women and younger viewers, increased reach by over 20 million viewers.

    He followed that with a year or so long stint with Star Sports wherein he worked on integrating the ESPN sports production team into the new post-merger sports network’s team structure. He hired a 150-person team in six weeks – drove the organisational design process obtaining management and HR approvals.

    His last assignment prior to joining ESPN, was with A&E Networks as the EVP and head of content for ten months.

  • Arun Thapar joins A+ENetworks|TV18

    Arun Thapar joins A+ENetworks|TV18

    MUMBAI: The factual entertainment genre in India is observing some flux with new channel launches as well as professional movements. Last week, indiantelevision.com reported that Discovery Networks programming head Arun Thapar had resigned from the network he was associated with for five years.

    Now, the news is that Thapar is hopping on board A+ENetworks|TV18. He will serve the network as executive vice president programming with immediate effect.

    Thapar will be heading the creative content of the network’s two factual entertainment channels- History TV18 and FYI TV18. According to sources, his initial main focus will be on building a strong and localised content library for the recently launched channel, FYI TV18.

    At Discovery he led a cross functional team for programming strategy and planning, content sourcing including acquisitions, scheduling, commissioning and executive production of all local India productions. He also played a role in contributing towards ad sales solutions, language customization and new channel launches with a view to grow the Discovery portfolio and strengthening its leadership in nonfiction entertainment.

    Stay tuned for more updates……

  • Arun Thapar joins A+ENetworks|TV18

    Arun Thapar joins A+ENetworks|TV18

    MUMBAI: The factual entertainment genre in India is observing some flux with new channel launches as well as professional movements. Last week, indiantelevision.com reported that Discovery Networks programming head Arun Thapar had resigned from the network he was associated with for five years.

    Now, the news is that Thapar is hopping on board A+ENetworks|TV18. He will serve the network as executive vice president programming with immediate effect.

    Thapar will be heading the creative content of the network’s two factual entertainment channels- History TV18 and FYI TV18. According to sources, his initial main focus will be on building a strong and localised content library for the recently launched channel, FYI TV18.

    At Discovery he led a cross functional team for programming strategy and planning, content sourcing including acquisitions, scheduling, commissioning and executive production of all local India productions. He also played a role in contributing towards ad sales solutions, language customization and new channel launches with a view to grow the Discovery portfolio and strengthening its leadership in nonfiction entertainment.

    Stay tuned for more updates……

  • Discovery India programming head Arun Thapar moves on

    Discovery India programming head Arun Thapar moves on

    MUMBAI: After a five year long journey with Discovery Networks Asia Pacific India as vice president – programming, Arun Thapar has reportedly moved on from his role to pursue further challenging career opportunities.

    According to sources, Thapar’s last day at the network was 10 August.

    No confirmation was available about his departure from either Thapar or the Discovery management, despite several attempts to reach out to them.

    Thapar, led a cross functional team for programming strategy and planning, content sourcing including acquisitions, scheduling, commissioning and executive production of all local India productions.

    He also played a role in contributing towards ad sales solutions, language customization and new channel launches with a view to grow the Discovery portfolio and strengthening its leadership in nonfiction entertainment.

    During his journey, he oversaw various programming and on air promotion (OAP) needs for all 11 channels of the Discovery Networks in South Asia – Discovery Channel, Discovery Channel Tamil, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery Kids, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Investigation Discovery, TLC HD World, Animal Planet HD World and Discovery HD World.

    In his past role, Thapar was program presenter and VP programming at NDTV Lifestyle.

    Indiantelevision.com had recently reported that Karan Bajaj was joining Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific as senior vice president & general manager of South Asia with effect from 17 October 2016. He will be based in Mumbai and will report to Discovery APAC president and managing director Arthur Bastings.

  • Discovery India programming head Arun Thapar moves on

    Discovery India programming head Arun Thapar moves on

    MUMBAI: After a five year long journey with Discovery Networks Asia Pacific India as vice president – programming, Arun Thapar has reportedly moved on from his role to pursue further challenging career opportunities.

    According to sources, Thapar’s last day at the network was 10 August.

    No confirmation was available about his departure from either Thapar or the Discovery management, despite several attempts to reach out to them.

    Thapar, led a cross functional team for programming strategy and planning, content sourcing including acquisitions, scheduling, commissioning and executive production of all local India productions.

    He also played a role in contributing towards ad sales solutions, language customization and new channel launches with a view to grow the Discovery portfolio and strengthening its leadership in nonfiction entertainment.

    During his journey, he oversaw various programming and on air promotion (OAP) needs for all 11 channels of the Discovery Networks in South Asia – Discovery Channel, Discovery Channel Tamil, TLC, Animal Planet, Discovery Kids, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Investigation Discovery, TLC HD World, Animal Planet HD World and Discovery HD World.

    In his past role, Thapar was program presenter and VP programming at NDTV Lifestyle.

    Indiantelevision.com had recently reported that Karan Bajaj was joining Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific as senior vice president & general manager of South Asia with effect from 17 October 2016. He will be based in Mumbai and will report to Discovery APAC president and managing director Arthur Bastings.