Ashish Bagga

India Today’s Purie says new vice chairperson Kalli has ability to straddle edit and biz functions

MUMBAI: India Today Group, which runs news channels — India Today and Aaj Tak and also print media magazines like india Today — on Tuesday, named Kalli Purie as the vice chairperson.

Kalli, an Oxford University graduate in politics, philosophy and economics, is, at present, the group editorial director (broadcast and new media). Working with the group in several roles since 1996, she will now oversee the editorial and business functions of the group, according to an email from the group’s chairman and editor-in-chief Aroon Purie, Mint reported.

Purie said he believed, like him, she had the ability to straddle both, editorial and business functions.

Purie, who has been at the helm for over 40 years, wrote that , with the new appointment, he would be spending time on strategic steering of the group and exploring new opportunities, rather than on day-to-day operations.

The group CEO Ashish Bagga had, in July this year, resigned and the company is yet to find a replacement.

October 18, 2017

India Today Group CEO Ashish Bagga resigns

MUMBAI: India Today Group CEO Ashish Bagga has resigned, marking the end of his 15-year stint with the organisation that runs channels — India Today and Aaj Tak. Bagga is also the incumbent president of private television news broadcasters’ body — News Broadcasters Association.

According to a letter from India Today Group editor-in-chief Aroon Purie, Bagga’s direct reportees will jointly report to Kalli Purie (who is the group editorial director — broadcast and new media) and Dinesh Bhatia (group chief financial officer). In the letter, Purie stated that he had worked with Bagga very closely together through many a triumph and tribulation. His contribution to the group had been significant, he added.

Bagga started his career with the group in 1983 and was responsible for launching Newstrack, Music Today and India Today’s regional editions, in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam. Between two stints at India Today, Bagga worked at Hindustan Times, IV Communications and Financial Times, London.

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LCN issue: TRAI mandate a victory for us, says NBA

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August 1, 2017

India Today magazine featured as ‘Cover of the Day’

MUMBAI: The society of publication designers, New York on www.spd.org selected India Today magazine’s latest issue cover 31 July 2017 on the China – Pakistan issue as ‘The Cover of the Day’. This puts the India Today magazine amongst the best in the world to be featured for brilliance in cover design.

The cover with the headline ‘China’s New Chick’ along with a caricature of the maps of China and Pakistan as a hen and a chick have already made the international media take note for an artistic take on an international development.

Over the last four decades, the India Today magazine covers have captured the defining moments in history with a lot of iconic covers that have become imprinted in public memory.

The trend continues in recent times too with a lot of covers going viral on social media or creating a storm across borders. The covers with Baba Ramdev and the Pakistan Army chief are the very recent examples.

On the magazine cover getting featured, India Today Group Group CEO Ashish Bagga said, “Getting featured in SPD, New York reflects on India Today’s commitment to set international standards in journalism. Pertinent issues and a powerful take on them is the hallmark of impactful reportage and insights. For India Today, we are happy that we have serviced the Thinking Indian well”.

July 26, 2017

LCN issue: TRAI mandate a victory for us, says NBA

MUMBAI: Ashish Bagga, President, News Broadcasters Association (NBA) stated that in a major victory for the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a mandate against Multi System Operators (MSOs) regarding usage of multiple LCNs. This mandate was released within two weeks by TRAI on representations made by NBA.

NBA had filed a complaint with TRAI against unethical distribution practices adopted by a new entrant in the English news genre: Republic TV, to boost its Rating Points (TVTs). NBA had also appealed to BARC not to release data for the English general news category for Week 19, 2017 as the rating was corrupted due to unfair distribution tactics. Consequently, major English news Channels who are also members of the NBA had opted out of the measuring system to protect themselves from being measured in a non-level playing field and had clarified that they would return only after the unethical practices had been stopped.

After a series of discussions and complaints to BARC and TRAI, the English news broadcasters have resumed their Watermark last Friday night subjecting themselves to ongoing measurements as they were sufficiently satisfied that due to TRAI’s intervention the malpractices were discontinued. This was confirmed by most MSOs.

Bagga stated that the NBA’s stance today stands vindicated. Not only had TRAI released this important mandate, it had also aggressively followed up with MSOs about putting a stop to malpractices. The NBA is grateful to the TRAI for taking swift measures to stop malpractices. TRAI in its recent mandate to the Multiple System Operators (MSOs), also emphasized on ensuring that all channels falling in a particular genre appear in its (MSO’s) network’s electronic programming guide (EPG) under that genre, to make services more consumer friendly.

As a result of TRAI’s mandate and action, the rating of Republic TV have gone down by over 50% after the malpractice was discontinued. This drop in rating brings Republic TV closer to realistic levels of weekly reach of general English news channels which is an average of 0.6 to 0.8 million.

Bagga stated that this would not have been possible without the timely intervention of TRAI on NBA’s complaints.

June 2, 2017

India Today’s Ashish Bagga is new NBA president

MUMBAI: News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has elected India Today Group chief executive officer (CEO) Ashish Bagga as the president. The news was announced at a board meeting held earlier this week.

Bagga replaces former ABP News Network CEO Ashok Venkatramani following his exit from the channel on 4 November. Venkatramani was appointed as the president of NBA in September 2016 at the ninth annual general meeting where Bagga was elected as the vice-president.

Times Network MD and CEO M.K. Anand will replace the Bagga’s role as the vice-president, while newly elevated New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) group CEO and executive vice chairperson K.V.L. Narayan Rao has been elected as the honorary treasurer.

Bagga, Anand and Rao also serve as the board members of NBA.

Other board members of NBA are — TV18 Broadcast chief executive, news, and group editor-in-chief Rahul Joshi, India TV chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma, Zee Media group CEO Bhaskar Das, News24 Broadcast India chairperson and managing director Anurradha Prasad and Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing whole-time director M.V. Shreyams Kumar.

Currently, NBA has 23 news and current affairs broadcasters (59 news and current affairs channels) as its members.

November 30, 2016

India Today’s Ashish Bagga is new NBA president

MUMBAI: News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has elected India Today Group chief executive officer (CEO) Ashish Bagga as the president. The news was announced at a board meeting held earlier this week.

Bagga replaces former ABP News Network CEO Ashok Venkatramani following his exit from the channel on 4 November. Venkatramani was appointed as the president of NBA in September 2016 at the ninth annual general meeting where Bagga was elected as the vice-president.

Times Network MD and CEO M.K. Anand will replace the Bagga’s role as the vice-president, while newly elevated New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) group CEO and executive vice chairperson K.V.L. Narayan Rao has been elected as the honorary treasurer.

Bagga, Anand and Rao also serve as the board members of NBA.

Other board members of NBA are — TV18 Broadcast chief executive, news, and group editor-in-chief Rahul Joshi, India TV chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma, Zee Media group CEO Bhaskar Das, News24 Broadcast India chairperson and managing director Anurradha Prasad and Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing whole-time director M.V. Shreyams Kumar.

Currently, NBA has 23 news and current affairs broadcasters (59 news and current affairs channels) as its members.

November 30, 2016

Venkatramani new NBA president

MUMBAI: ABP News Network CEO Ashok Venkatramani has been elected as the new president of News Broadcasters Association (NBA). Venkatramani was earlier the vice president and director on the board of NBA India.

Venkatramani has replaced India TV chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma. Sharma will however continue to be a board member. Venkatramanialso chairs the sales and HR committee of NBA and has been with ABP since 2008. Prior to that, he was the vice president and business head for the consumer goods firm Unilever in India for 18 years.

The board has also elected India Today Group CEO Ashish Bagga as the vice president and Times Network MD and CEO M. K. Anand as the honorary treasurer.

Other board members include New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) executive vice chairperson K. V. L. Narayan Rao, TV18 chief executive, news, and group editor-in-chief Rahul Joshi, Zee Media group CEO Bhaskar Das, News24 chairperson and MD Anurradha Prasad and Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing whole time director M.V. Shreyams Kumar.

September 22, 2016

Venkatramani new NBA president

MUMBAI: ABP News Network CEO Ashok Venkatramani has been elected as the new president of News Broadcasters Association (NBA). Venkatramani was earlier the vice president and director on the board of NBA India.

Venkatramani has replaced India TV chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma. Sharma will however continue to be a board member. Venkatramanialso chairs the sales and HR committee of NBA and has been with ABP since 2008. Prior to that, he was the vice president and business head for the consumer goods firm Unilever in India for 18 years.

The board has also elected India Today Group CEO Ashish Bagga as the vice president and Times Network MD and CEO M. K. Anand as the honorary treasurer.

Other board members include New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) executive vice chairperson K. V. L. Narayan Rao, TV18 chief executive, news, and group editor-in-chief Rahul Joshi, Zee Media group CEO Bhaskar Das, News24 chairperson and MD Anurradha Prasad and Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing whole time director M.V. Shreyams Kumar.

September 22, 2016

TV Today Network observes top level changes

MUMBAI: One of the leading broadcast networks, TV Today Network, is seeing some top level restructuring. As part of the changes, Rahul Kumar Shaw has been instated as the chief revenue officer (CRO) for TV Today Network. He was earlier the CRO of India Today TV and business head radio. Shaw will oversee ad sales and all revenue opportunities across the Hindi cluster which includes channels like Aaj Tak, DAT and Tez. He will also look after India Today TV and the network’s radio business.

This information came to Indian Television.com at the time when chief revenue officer of the Hindi channels (Aaj Tak, Delhi Aaj Tak and Tej) cluster Rajnish Rikhy has stepped down from his post. Rikhy was promoted as CRO from the network’s senior VP Ad Sales and business head last month. “TV Today Network is a respectful brand and the company is well poised. There is no reason behind my exit. I just want to pursue other career opportunities”, says Rikhy.

Prior to joining TV Today Network, Rikhy served at BCCL New Delhi as vice president(R).

public://manoj sharma.jpg

Under the new structure, India Today Group business head Manoj Sharma, has been promoted to publishing director for Living Media. In his role, he will be responsible for addressing revenue maximisation, driving cost efficiencies and building brand salience. Merged entity magazines like India Today English, Hindi and its supplements, Business Today, Robb Report, Reader’s Digest, etc., will be under Sharma’s ambit.

Vivek Malhotra has been elevated to the position of chief marketing officer from VP marketing. He will oversee the marketing functions across the network’s TV channels, merged entity publications and digital. Understanding and growing on the needs of the viewers will be Malhotra’s key responsibility.

With this change, Vishwalok Nath will take on greater revenue responsibilities in the India Today Group as head of strategic alliances, business development and syndication. He will focus towards greater monetisation opportunities for the group.

Shaw and Malhotra will continue to report to TV Today Network CEO Ashish Bagga

July 4, 2016