ITV

Tag: Naveen Jindal

  • AIU & Manav Rachna to host 2024 FISU World University Championship Shooting

    AIU & Manav Rachna to host 2024 FISU World University Championship Shooting

    Mumbai: Over 250 university shooting athletes from more than 25 countries, along with a 33-member Indian team, will compete in the FISU World University Championship Shooting, taking place in New Delhi from 9 to 13 November. This is the first time the championship has been held in India, with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) overseeing the event and Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies (MRIIRS) as the host. The competition will occur at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, with an opening ceremony on 8 November at the Manav Rachna campus. Athletes will compete in various shooting disciplines, including rifle, pistol, and shotgun events.

    AIU president Prof Vinay Kumar Pathak stated, “On behalf of the Association of Indian Universities, I warmly welcome all international university athletes and officials to New Delhi for the FISU World University Championship Shooting 2024. Hosting this event is an honor, and we are deeply grateful to Manav Rachna and our partners for their invaluable support. We look forward to an exciting championship and the camaraderie it will bring.”

    “This championship is more than a competition; it represents our commitment to fostering athletic talent at the university level,” said MREI president and Manav Rachna University (MRU) and MRIIRS chancellor Dr Prashant Bhalla. “Bringing the FISU World University Championship to India is a tremendous honor, and we look forward to supporting these dedicated student-athletes as they demonstrate their skill and determination on a global stage.”

    The event will feature categories such as the 10m Air Rifle, 50m Rifle 3 Position, Trap, and Skeet. Notable Olympic events include the 10m Air Pistol for men and women, Mixed Team events in Trap and Skeet, and the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol. By hosting this international championship, Manav Rachna continues to support the development of sports champions and empower the next generation of athletes.

    MREI vice president and FISU-WUCS organizing committee president Amit Bhalla remarked, “The event’s impact extends far beyond sport, offering participants a unique opportunity for cultural exchange and camaraderie. Hosting such a significant event is a testament to India’s growing presence in the global sports arena and to Manav Rachna’s commitment to excellence in sports education.”

    Top international athletes, including Paris Olympic bronze medalist Audrey Gogniat from Switzerland and German world record holder Anna Janssen, will compete alongside emerging Indian Olympians Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Sift Kaur Samra. With world champions and rising stars in attendance, this championship aims to inspire the next generation through talent and dedication to athletic excellence.

    FISU president Leonz Eder said, “As FISU continues to elevate the standards of university sports internationally, the championship provides an exceptional stage for participants to meet like-minded peers, celebrate their achievements, and create lifelong memories.”

    The FISU World University Championship Shooting will engage audiences worldwide, connecting young sports enthusiasts across major universities and colleges. This event underscores FISU’s commitment to providing a world-class experience and celebrating university athletes’ dedication.

    Through its partnership with FISU, Manav Rachna aims to make this championship an enriching experience that fosters sportsmanship and international understanding for all participants.

  • Droom celebrates ten years with launch of AI-powered MyDroom platform

    Droom celebrates ten years with launch of AI-powered MyDroom platform

    Mumbai: Droom, an automobile marketplace, proudly marked its 10th anniversary by launching MyDroom, an AI-powered platform promising to transform the future of vehicle ownership. This milestone was celebrated with grandeur, featuring Guest of honour Naveen Jindal (chairman, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd., Philanthropist, Sportsperson and 3-time member of parliament)  and none other than its investor and brand ambassador, global music icon Badshah. The event was also graced by over 150 of India’s most influential tech entrepreneurs, who shared inspiring stories of innovation and success.

    Founded in 2014, Droom has continuously pushed the boundaries of the automobile industry, leveraging cutting-edge technology to empower over 2.5 million customers. The company’s journey from a fledgling start-up to a dominant force in the market is a testament to the resilience and vision of Droom’s founder & CEO Sandeep Aggarwal and his unwavering commitment to reshaping how India buys, sells, and manages vehicles.

    MyDroom: Shaping the future of vehicle management

    At the heart of the celebration was the unveiling of MyDroom, a revolutionary AI-powered platform designed to offer a seamless, personalized vehicle management experience. From predictive maintenance and real-time tracking to personalized recommendations, MyDroom is a game-changer for vehicle owners. It not only helps users stay ahead of maintenance schedules but also integrates various services like repairs, roadside assistance, and even car washes into a single platform—making vehicle ownership smarter and more efficient than ever before.

    Celebrating a decade of growth and innovation

    Droom’s 10-year journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Having sold over 580k  vehicles worth a staggering $7.3 billion, the company has facilitated more than 4.5 million listings and served a vast network of 23,000 dealers across 1,176 cities. Today, with 16 million Monthly Active Users and 16.2 million app downloads, Droom stands as a beacon of India’s tech-driven revolution.

    Addressing the audience and congratulating the entire Droom team on this success guest of honour Jindal Steel & Power Ltd chairman Naveen Jindal affirmed “Our country’s growing pool of educated and skilled men and women driving the social and economic change. The majority of our population comprises youth who are aspiring for opportunities. And for us to provide these opportunities, we need to grow and for growth, we need to cooperate, collaborate and co-exist with our neighbours. He praised every Entrepreneur for their hard work and contribution to make India what it is. In continuation, he said with the right efforts Haryana will be a developed state in the next 10 years and Gurugram will be the developed city of the state in the next five years.

    Badshah, investor & brand ambassador, echoes the same excitement, “I’ve been a part of Droom’s journey as an investor and ambassador, and it’s been inspiring to see how they continue to innovate and push boundaries. MyDroom is a groundbreaking platform that perfectly aligns with my passion for technology and forward-thinking solutions. I’m excited to see how this will transform the way we manage and experience vehicles.”

    Droom founder & CEO Sandeep Aggarwal reflected on the company’s journey, “The past decade has been an extraordinary journey of innovation, disruption, and growth. We are deeply grateful to our team, customers, and partners for their trust and support. MyDroom marks the next chapter in our story—one that places vehicle owners at the forefront and harnesses AI to deliver a truly personalized, seamless experience. We are excited to lead the industry into the next decade and beyond. We are very grateful that Mr. Naveen Jindal and Baadshah took out time from their super busy schedule and joined the celebrations that encourage us to constantly do better work.”

    The event concluded with insightful questions about entrepreneurship during the 2 Fire Side chats, the first of Droom Founder and CEO Sandeep Aggarwal and Droom’s Brand Ambassador and Global music Icon Badshah and the second between Droom Founder and CEO Sandeep Aggarwal and guest of honour Naveen Jindal.  

  • Hunt for Zee Business head continues

    Hunt for Zee Business head continues

    MUMBAI: Zee Business, an arm of Zee Media Corporation, has seen several transitions in its management this year. The channel was initially headed by Amish Devgan, who decided to move away after serving for 14 years. It was then led by Zee Media Corporation’s then CEO for content Samir Ahluwalia,who was re-designated as the editor of the channel in June 2016.

    After Devgan’s exit, the channel was looked after by Ahluwalia and deputy editor Mihir Bhatt. Accused in the case of Rs 100-crore extortion from industrialist Naveen Jindal, Ahluwalia called it a day in Zee Media in September. Then, the search for Zee Business head continued, until this development.

    Sources told indiantelevision.com that Zee reportedly tried to reach out to few media experts namely, Sanjay Pugalia, Mehraj Dube, Amish Devgan and Pranjal Sharma to take up the role.

    While Pugalia is with Raghav Bahl’s The Quint as the president and editorial director of both The Quint and Bloomberg Quint, Dube is Essel Group Corp Resources’ deputy vice president. Devgan has taken up the role of the executive editor at IBN7 whereas Sharma is an economic analyst and writer contributing to BusinessWorld magazine as its consulting editor and anchors ‘The Appointment’ show on Zee network.

    It remains to be seen who will head the channel…

  • Hunt for Zee Business head continues

    Hunt for Zee Business head continues

    MUMBAI: Zee Business, an arm of Zee Media Corporation, has seen several transitions in its management this year. The channel was initially headed by Amish Devgan, who decided to move away after serving for 14 years. It was then led by Zee Media Corporation’s then CEO for content Samir Ahluwalia,who was re-designated as the editor of the channel in June 2016.

    After Devgan’s exit, the channel was looked after by Ahluwalia and deputy editor Mihir Bhatt. Accused in the case of Rs 100-crore extortion from industrialist Naveen Jindal, Ahluwalia called it a day in Zee Media in September. Then, the search for Zee Business head continued, until this development.

    Sources told indiantelevision.com that Zee reportedly tried to reach out to few media experts namely, Sanjay Pugalia, Mehraj Dube, Amish Devgan and Pranjal Sharma to take up the role.

    While Pugalia is with Raghav Bahl’s The Quint as the president and editorial director of both The Quint and Bloomberg Quint, Dube is Essel Group Corp Resources’ deputy vice president. Devgan has taken up the role of the executive editor at IBN7 whereas Sharma is an economic analyst and writer contributing to BusinessWorld magazine as its consulting editor and anchors ‘The Appointment’ show on Zee network.

    It remains to be seen who will head the channel…

  • Demoted Zee exec Samir Ahluwalia calls it a day

    Demoted Zee exec Samir Ahluwalia calls it a day

    MUMBAI: After the confirmation of the exclusive news of the demotion of a top Zee executive published in Indiantelevision.com in June this year, his descent was a foregone conclusion.

    The exit of Zee Business editor Samir Ahluwalia two months after your portal broke the demotion news has now been confirmed. Ahluwalia today officially called it a day after 19 years of association with Zee Media.

    Sources stated that Ahluwalia received several warnings from ZEEL chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra in the past for his connection with the case of alleged extortion of Rs 100 crore from a company owned by industrialist and former MP Naveen Jindal.

    In a townhall meeting at Zee a few months ago, the editor was hauled up by Chandra’s confidante, Amit Jain. The latter reportedly reminded Ahluwalia about his job becoming unsafe due to this case.

    Ahluwalia had also spent time in Tihar Jail as he is also an accused along with news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary in the extortion case.

  • Demoted Zee exec Samir Ahluwalia calls it a day

    Demoted Zee exec Samir Ahluwalia calls it a day

    MUMBAI: After the confirmation of the exclusive news of the demotion of a top Zee executive published in Indiantelevision.com in June this year, his descent was a foregone conclusion.

    The exit of Zee Business editor Samir Ahluwalia two months after your portal broke the demotion news has now been confirmed. Ahluwalia today officially called it a day after 19 years of association with Zee Media.

    Sources stated that Ahluwalia received several warnings from ZEEL chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra in the past for his connection with the case of alleged extortion of Rs 100 crore from a company owned by industrialist and former MP Naveen Jindal.

    In a townhall meeting at Zee a few months ago, the editor was hauled up by Chandra’s confidante, Amit Jain. The latter reportedly reminded Ahluwalia about his job becoming unsafe due to this case.

    Ahluwalia had also spent time in Tihar Jail as he is also an accused along with news anchor Sudhir Chaudhary in the extortion case.

  • Focus TV network is on the right track: CEO Neeraj Sanan

    Focus TV network is on the right track: CEO Neeraj Sanan

    KOLKATA: Barely five months after NE Bangla rebranded itself to Focus Bangla due to a change of ownership, gossip has been doing the rounds that the Bengali News channel’s survival is a big question mark. For starters, its chief editor Biswa Majumdar has left for rival ETV Bangla as senior editor.  Then the  channel has yet to rake in the money and sources say that it was preparing to  hand out pink slips and employee compensations.

     

    However, when Focus Network group CEO Neeraj Sanan was contacted, he firmly asserted that any talk of the channel being shut down was baseless.  In fact, he says there is no question of pulling down the shutters. “We are pretty bullish and are correcting everything that was wrong. We have just invested in a seven storied building in Odisha which will function as our office,” he says. “We have taken 30,000 square feet of space in Noida and our Agartala operations have restarted,” he says. “We are investing further: increments are slated to be  handed out to our Bengal channel staff over the next couple of days and I will be personally going to Kolkata for the same.”

     

    But even then media expert Swaraj Mukherjee told indiantelevision.com that  “the Jindals are still negotiating with an NRI buyer to sell Focus Bangla but so far that’s in limbo.”

     

    Sanan rubbishes all this as corridor talk. He says a new chief editor will be hired soon to replace Majumdar at Focus Bangla.

     

    Although 2013 wasn’t a very productive year for Bengali channels, Ethical Media Trust (EMT) that owns the Focus News network is looking at actively investing in its six channels. The Trust has Matang Singh, who was the former owner of the network that was erstwhile called as Positiv TV, as the majority shareholder with several others pumping in money as well.

     

    The Harvard educated Sanan admits that cash flows and revenue inflows could be better, but he points out that “they are at significantly better as compared to the zero levels they were earlier. Eventually, things will really look up.”

     

    In an earlier interview with indiantelevision.com, Sanan had said that the network’s aim is to have an honest channel without any worry about the money required to run it. 

     

    (Updated on 4 August 2014 at 16:00 hours)

     
  • Focus Odisha seeks to be a differentiator

    Focus Odisha seeks to be a differentiator

    BHUBANESWAR: The times are tough, especially for news channels to survive but that doesn’t deter some from entering the space. One such is the Focus network, which is now venturing into Odisha with Focus Odisha after having forged its presence with Focus north east, Focus Haryana, Focus Bangla, Focus Hi Fi and the upcoming Focus News.

     

    The channel was officially launched on 13 June by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, and has been on air for the past fortnight.

     

    Headquartered in Bhubaneswar, Focus Odisha has nine bureaus located in places like Cuttack and Puri, each having a journalist, a video journalist and few technical staff. Apart from this, 65 stringers have been employed to cover the entire state, making it a nearly 150 strong team of permanent staff.

     

    Only the main office is equipped with an OB van while four main bureaus have 3G live-U backpacks along with two at the headquarters.

     

    In terms of distribution, the channel is present on Ortel, Videocon d2h, Manthan, Hathway and Variety, giving it a nearly 60 per cent reach in Odisha. The promoters want the channel to be a “credible and honest” one, for which Studio design by Prateek Resolutions is one of few first steps. Nearly Rs 10 crore has been pumped into setting up the channel.

     

    DN Singh, who worked for many years with Zee News, is Focus Odisha’s channel editor while Jaganath Das is the sales head. Sanjeev Srivastav is the group editor while Neeraj Sanan is the group business head.

     

    Focus Odisha will stress on “fair, credible and honest” journalism. “News content on channels cannot be totally different but its treatment can be. Suppose a personality makes a statement, it can be used in exactly the same way. But if you add a line that the same person did not mention something, it makes the viewer think,” says Singh who is the ‘go-to guy’ for practically everything at the channel. He is quite proud that his young journalists have already cracked two scams in the state and one is just getting prepared.

     

    On the day of launch, Focus Odisha was showing the much awaited Jagganath yatra that was taking place in Puri, for which the channel had got live broadcast rights. The same is being shared with five other entertainment channels. “Odisha we are watching you in a way that is honest, unscrupulous and with a lot of editorial integrity,” says Sanan.

     

    The first few years may go in investment mode but the channel is confident that it will break even in about three to four years. However, Sanan is totally unconcerned about cash flow. “Our main aim is to have an honest channel. If the news has facts, then we will put it on air. Don’t worry about the money,” says Sanan.

     

    The biggest challenge for Focus Odisha will be to tackle competition from existing strongholds such as OTV, Kanak TV and Naxatra News. The Rs 30 crore ads market for news channels is primarily dominated by OTV that sources say commands ad rates up to Rs 1800 for 10 seconds during prime time while the second in line gets Rs 500 per 10-seconder. This is due to the huge gap in TAM ratings. Major advertisers are retail, PSUs, corporate and government and the channel already has five brands on board.

     

    Yet, how does the channel plan to make its presence felt in an already cluttered market? “There is no field in the world now that isn’t cluttered. But there is always space for new people to come and make a mark. We want to give audiences what we think they aren’t getting now and be a differentiator. Why do we treat our audiences as dumb? We really need to engage with the people and find out their interest. Doing so, we will want to make Focus Odisha the voice of Odisha,” says Srivastav. “Odisha is a crucial state going forward in the development of India. It has the richest natural wealth but is also one of the poorest states in the country that needs media attention.”

     

    Focus group is currently promoted by a trust called Ethical Media Trust with Matang Singh of Positiv TV owning majority of the network with other shareholders also pumping money in the trust. When questioned about the involvement of former Congress MP Naveen Jindal in the network, most people dismissed it as a rumour.

     

    While the mystery around ownership of the network continues, the channel has flagged off Focus Odisha and will be making its presence felt in the state.

  • Jindal vs Zee Media: Jindal denied permission by NBSA

    Jindal vs Zee Media: Jindal denied permission by NBSA

    NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) today denied the plea of steel magnate Naveen Jindal to amend the relief sought since the matters raised by him against Zee Media Corporation. The reason being that the matter was already pending before the Delhi High Court and the Election Commission of India.

     

    It also said it would not be able to entertain the complaint.

     

    NBSA chairperson justice R V Raveendran said, “It will not be appropriate to permit the complainant to amend the relief sought, to get over the bar contained under second provision to Regulation 7.2.”

     

    However, the NBSA said, “If Jindal wants to file a complaint under the regulations, independent of the subject matter of the suit, it is open to him to take action as is permissible in law/in accordance with the regulations.”

     

    The second proviso to Regulation 7.2 of the NBSA Regulations reads, “Provided that nothing in these regulations shall be deemed to empower the authority to hold an enquiry into any matter in respect of which any proceeding is pending in a court of law or other tribunal or statutory authority.”

     

    Jindal, then Member of Parliament, had filed a complaint on 18 March 2014 to the Election Commission of India against Zee News, Zee Business and Zee News (UP) channels with regard to the contents of certain news broadcasts on 7 March, 10 March and 16 March. It sought a direction to Zee News and its associated channels not to air what he termed “false, defamatory, misleading news items against him and his company.”

     

    The Election Commission of India forwarded the complaint to NBA on 20 March so that NBSA could consider the complaint and take such action as it deems appropriate. NBSA considered the complaint at its meeting on 21 March and decided to issue a notice to the broadcaster calling upon them to file its response. Both parties were also called for a hearing today. While Jindal was represented by lawyers, Zee Media (legal) vice president Sanjay Jain was present along with his lawyers at the hearing.

     

    In its response of 8 April, Zee Media Corporation alleged that Jindal had filed a suit before the Delhi High Court on the very same allegations, seeking permanent and mandatory injunctions as also damages; that Jindal also moved for an application for temporary injunction; and that the application had been rejected on 1 April.

     

    The broadcaster also contended that in view of Regulation 7.2, Jindal cannot pursue any remedy before NBSA when a suit is pending on the same issue.

     

    The matter was heard on 1 May and the NBSA found that both the complaint and the suit are based on the same facts and grievances and the reliefs sought are also the same.

     

    Jindal’s counsel submitted that the complaint was to the Commission and not to NBSA and he may be permitted to pursue it before the Commission. 

     

  • Focus Bangla in talks with Tata Sky, Dish TV to increase penetration

    Focus Bangla in talks with Tata Sky, Dish TV to increase penetration

    KOLKATA: The erstwhile Northeast Bangla (NE Bangla), recently rechristened Focus Bangla, is in talks with direct-to-home (DTH) players like Tata Sky and Dish TV to increase penetration. At present, only cable TV subscribers and Airtel Digital TV customers can view the channel.

     

    The 24×7 Bengali news channel also plans to put up 200 hoardings across the state of West Bengal from mid-April to send out the message that the channel is neutral and believes in airing unbiased news. It has even changed its logo to suggest that it will be more ‘focussed’ in presenting news from all angles.

     

    “We are in talks with Tata Sky and Dish TV though nothing has been finalised. We aim to reach 95 per cent TV homes in the state sooner,” Focus Bangla editor-in-chief Biswa Majumdar told indiantelevision.com.

     

    He also said that last week, the viewership of the new channel increased by around 22 per cent as compared to the week before. “Focus TV is in focus now. Focus Bangla is a news broadcasting and entertainment network,” he said and added that the channel would focus on political news with the impending elections and would interview most of the big names in the polls.

     

    Focus Bangla has more than 150 employees on board and is further recruiting people to cover all aspects of news, current affairs and especially, the Lok Sabha elections, to make a mark all over again on the Bengali audience.

     

    “For elections, we have 14 special programmes. Celebrities will go to places and interact with people,” Majumdar said.

     

    Apart from the ‘Khabar Aajke’ section, the channel has a separate Bollywood entertainment section.

     

    According to sources, Matang Sinh, a former minister of state for parliamentary affairs in the PV Narsimharao government owned Focus TV and NE Bangla. Last year however, Naveen Jindal, chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) bought a stake in the channel through his family and associates. “Jindal had taken over Focus TV in Delhi last year,” said one of the sources.