ITV

Tag: NDTV

  • The slow eclipse of India’s media and broadcasting pioneers

    The slow eclipse of India’s media and broadcasting pioneers

    MUMBAI: Once, they blazed across the Indian media landscape with the swagger of pioneers. Entrepreneur-led behemoths like Subhash Chandra’s Zee Entertainment, Kalanithi Maran’s Sun TV, Prannoy Roy’s NDTV, and Raghav Bahl’s Network18 weren’t just market leaders — they were institutions, holding their own even as foreign giants circled hungrily.

    Today, those stars are fading. Some have already fallen.

    Network18 and TV18 are now firmly in the grip of Reliance Industries and Disney Star. NDTV, long a bastion of editorial independence, is under the control of the Adani Group. Its founders — Roy and Radhika — have exited stage left, their names now relics of an era that once prized journalistic idealism.

    Zee, once the crown jewel of Indian broadcasting, is barely hanging on. The Chandra family — once majority owners — now clutch a meagre four-odd  per cent stake. It’s a dramatic fall from grace fuelled by Subhash Chandra’s ill-advised adventures into infrastructure. To bankroll these forays, he pledged Zee shares, opening the gates to lenders who came calling. The result: a sharp dilution of promoter ownership and a credibility crisis. The failed merger with Sony’s Indian arm, Culver Max Entertainment, only added insult to injury — scuppered reportedly due to concerns about Zee’s financial hygiene. A company once viewed as squeaky clean had its reputation muddied.

    Sun TV, the fourth of the old guard, is also showing cracks. Helmed with iron discipline by Kalanithi Maran, it long stood as a symbol of stability. But the facade is now under strain. A family feud has burst into public view, with brother Dayanidhi Maran accusing Kala of wresting control of Sun TV through backdoor share acquisitions. Legal notices have flown, regulatory filings issued, and the company insists all was above board. Still, some reputational damage has been done — and the gossip mills are churning.

    The result is a media map being redrawn in real time. Where once these founders shaped the narrative, today they’re either sidelined, embattled, or ousted. And as corporate titans and conglomerates take over, the question is whether passion-led media can survive in an era of balance sheets, bottom lines, and boardroom power plays.

    India’s media isn’t short on ambition. But nostalgia alone won’t stop the sun from setting on yesterday’s giants.

  • NDTV gets real about artificial intelligence with new AI squad

    NDTV gets real about artificial intelligence with new AI squad

    MUMBAI: NDTV is placing its bets on silicon rather than scribes, announcing the formation of a dedicated artificial intelligence team to shake up its digital media game. The news broadcaster has enlisted Aayushman Choudhary, a tech entrepreneur with startup scars and coding credentials, to head up the new unit as head of AI.

    Chief product officer Rohan Tyagi, who has done his rounds at TikTok, Triller and Zee, is clearly betting that algorithms can do more than just sort cat videos. The AI team will focus on three key battlegrounds: automating journalism workflows and mining audience insights, supercharging personalisation engines, and cooking up fresh revenue streams powered by machine learning.

    Choudhary brings a mixed bag of entrepreneurial adventures to the newsroom. The Delhi-based techie spent a year building his own venture, Underhive Inc, before NDTV came calling in May. His CV reads like a startup hopscotch game—co-founding photo editing firm AfterShoot, doing a stint as head of technology at gaming platform Winbee, and even moonlighting as an entrepreneur in residence at venture capital firm Antler.

    The appointment signals NDTV’s recognition that the future of news lies not just in breaking stories but in breaking code. With traditional media houses scrambling to stay relevant in the digital arms race, the broadcaster is hoping artificial intelligence might just provide the human touch it needs to connect with audiences.

    Whether Choudhary can teach machines to sniff out scoops remains to be seen, but NDTV is clearly ready to let the robots have a crack at reinventing the newsroom.

  • Newsroom Gets a Newsmaker as Rahul Kanwal Takes Charge at NDTV

    Newsroom Gets a Newsmaker as Rahul Kanwal Takes Charge at NDTV

    MUMBAI: From breaking headlines to making one Rahul Kanwal has officially taken the hot seat at NDTV. India’s most trusted news network, New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV), has named Rahul Kanwal as its new chief executive officer and editor-in-chief, signalling a high-octane chapter in the brand’s storied legacy. In this dual role, Kanwal will steer both editorial and business operations at NDTV, an institution that has long been the gold standard in Indian journalism.

    With over 25 years of newsroom muscle, Kanwal brings a potent mix of prime-time credibility, investigative grit, and election coverage flair. His previous innings at India Today, Aaj Tak, Business Today, Headlines Today, and Zee News saw him rise through the ranks as news director, executive director, and senior editorial leader.

    An alumnus of the Harvard Business School’s General Management Program, and a Chevening Scholar trained in international broadcast journalism at Cardiff University, Kanwal also holds a journalism degree from Delhi University. His mantle includes accolades like the Roy Peck Trust Grant for Hostile Environment Journalism, among other awards for excellence in the field.

    Welcoming the appointment AMG Media Networks CEO Sanjay Pugalia said, “NDTV is a news super-brand that has stood for credibility and trust for nearly four decades through path-breaking journalism across television and digital platforms. With five new product launches over the past two years, NDTV continues to expand its footprint while remaining steadfast in its founding ethos. Rahul brings deep editorial insight, a passion for journalism, and proven leadership qualities that will be instrumental as we scale our presence across products and platforms.”

    Rahul Kanwal said, “Like many in my generation, I grew up watching NDTV. I am super charged about the prospect of infusing new life and energy into this marquee news brand. For years, NDTV has been the go-to brand for election coverage and big breaking news. I consider it a great honour to lead this storied media brand, and I am confident that NDTV will continue to rise to great heights of journalistic and business excellence. I look forward to working with the stellar teams at NDTV as we build on the extraordinary legacy of this great institution.”

    The NDTV Board also took a moment to commend Sanjay Pugalia for steering the ship through a crucial phase of transformation and reaffirmed their intent to tap into his strategic vision going forward.

    With five new product launches in the last two years and a growing digital footprint, NDTV isn’t just reporting the future, it’s writing it. And with Kanwal at the helm, it seems the best scoops may still be ahead.

  • Pranav Bakshi gets promoted to pilot Network18’s Connected growth engine

    Pranav Bakshi gets promoted to pilot Network18’s Connected growth engine

    MUMBAI: Network18’s digital dynamo Pranav Bakshi has just bagged a bold new title — chief growth officer, Network18 Connected — as he takes charge of accelerating content, audience, and revenue across connected TV, social platforms, and strategic partnerships.

    But this isn’t just a new nameplate on the desk. With his finger on the pulse of where audiences are headed (and not where they’ve lingered), Bakshi is gearing up to rewire how content is created, consumed and commercialised across the media conglomerate’s vast portfolio.

    “This role is about leading the charge, not catching up,” said Bakshi. “It’s about scaling platforms, monetising content smartly, and building future-proof digital ecosystems.”

    Having previously helmed digital video strategy for over 45 Network18 brands — from CNN-News18 and CNBC-TV18 to Firstpost, Moneycontrol and History TV18 — Bakshi’s remit covered everything from CTV to creators, from off-platform growth to platform partnerships.

    Before his Network18 innings, Bakshi brought the firepower at Times network, heading digital video, strategy, partnerships, and social media for a bouquet of brands with a collective follower base of 60 million. He’s also worn hats at NDTV, TOI, Taj Hotels and even Maersk, with a track record of marrying content with commerce and strategy with scale.

    With his elevation, expect Bakshi to keep the content taps flowing — but this time, through smarter pipes, faster funnels, and next-gen platforms. The build, as he says, continues.

  • Rahul Kanwal to steer NDTV as CEO from June; revenue & losses rise in FY 25

    Rahul Kanwal to steer NDTV as CEO from June; revenue & losses rise in FY 25

    MUMBAI:  In a high-voltage move, New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) has tapped veteran journalist Rahul Kanwal as its new chief executive officer and key managerial personnel, effective 16 June 2025. The appointment, cleared by the board at its meeting on 25 April, awaits the final nod from the ministry of information and broadcasting.

    Kanwal, who resigned as news director of India Today and Aaj Tak, and executive director of Business Today about a fortnight ago, brings more than 25 years of newsroom grit to the corner office. Known for his prime-time presence, election dissections and hard-nosed investigations, Kanwal has built a formidable brand in Indian journalism.

    An alumnus of the general management program at Harvard Business School and a Chevening Scholar, Kanwal honed his reporting chops at Delhi University and Cardiff University, specialising in international broadcast journalism. He is also a Roy Peck Trust Grant awardee for hostile environment journalism — and no stranger to both on-ground turbulence and boardroom manoeuvres.

    Kanwal’s editorial journey spans senior stints at Zee News and Headlines Today, marked by multiple awards for journalistic excellence. As he trades the anchor desk for the CEO’s chair, industry watchers are keen to see whether his instinct for headline-grabbing stories will translate into headline-grabbing strategies at NDTV.

    Meanwhile, the news broadcaster wrapped up FY25 with a cocktail of heady revenue growth and strategic bravado — and a side of losses. Busy transforming itself into a global, next-gen media powerhouse,  NDTV posted a 19 per cent jump in fourth-quarter revenue and a full-year top-line surge of 26 per cent.

    The network’s bold gambit included expansive coverage of heavyweight events like the Mahakumbh and Delhi Elections, alongside marquee brands such as Yuva and the NDTV Auto Awards. Meanwhile, its digital arm raced ahead, clocking a 47 per cent year-on-year jump in users across websites and apps.

    This was no year of half-measures. NDTV went all in — expanding distribution, overhauling its production and digital ecosystems, and splashing out on brand-building. It also widened its portfolio, launching NDTV Marathi to capture regional audiences and NDTV World to beam India’s view to global shores. The year also saw the launch of the ambitious NDTV World Summit, a high-powered gathering of global movers and shakers.

    However, ambition comes at a cost. Heavy investments meant NDTV ended the year in the red — a deliberate sacrifice, the company says, to sow the seeds for sustainable, profitable growth ahead.

    “FY 2024-25 was a defining year where we chose to lead with ambition and invest in the future,” said NDTV executive director and editor in chief Sanjay Pugalia. “We are confident the strategic decisions taken this year will deliver long-term value for our audiences, partners, and stakeholders.”

  • ABP tops the charts with regional flair and a digital news power play

    ABP tops the charts with regional flair and a digital news power play

    MUMBAI: Who says news is all doom and gloom? For ABP Network, it’s a story worth celebrating in five languages, no less. According to Comscore MMX-Multi-Platform data for February 2025, ABP Network has emerged as India’s third-largest digital publisher, pulling in a whopping 147.9 million unique visitors and outpacing media giants like HT Media, Zee Digital, India Today Group, Times Network, and NDTV.

    But this isn’t just a numbers game, it’s a masterclass in multilingual domination. ABP’s regional powerhouses are sweeping through Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, and Punjabi markets like seasoned newsroom ninjas.

    In the Hindi segment, ABP News surged ahead with 75.7 million unique visitors, outshining its nearest rival by over 18 million, a staggering lead that cements its top slot in India’s most competitive news space.

    ABP Ananda waltzed through the Bengali market with 18.9 million UVs, dancing 11.8 million steps ahead of the competition. Meanwhile, ABP Majha proved its mettle in Marathi with 19.2 million visitors, comfortably ahead of Sakal Media and Lokmat.

    Over in Gujarat, ABP Asmita swept up 5.3 million unique visitors, leaving behind TV9 Gujarati, Divyabhaskar, and News18 Gujarati. ABP Sanjha flexed its Punjabi muscle with 1.2 million UVs, clinching the top spot ahead of News18 Punjab and Punjab Kesari Jagbani.

    And in the Tamil market, newcomer ABP Nadu made a statement, grabbing second place with 9 million visitors, becoming the youngest publisher to break into the leadership ranks.

    From legacy strongholds to new frontiers, ABP Network is clearly not just chasing eyeballs, it’s curating digital loyalty across India’s media map. With its blend of regional relevance, digital-first strategy, and journalistic agility, ABP isn’t just reporting the news, it’s rewriting the playbook.

  • NDTV’s board level announcements

    NDTV’s board level announcements

    MUMBAI: News broadcaster NDTV has orchestrated a strategic board recalibration, bringing back heavyweight independent directors for another three-year performance while reshuffling key leadership roles.

    The corporate choreography  features the comeback of three seasoned professionals:

    * Upendra Kumar Sinha, former Seb supremo, returns as independent director and chairperson from 27 March 2025

    * Dipali Balkrishan Goenka, a powerhouse of the home textile universe from the Welspun group, secures her second independent director term

    * Dinesh Kumar Mittal, an administrative service veteran, extends his directorial stint

    Senthil Chengalvarayan’s has decided to transition from  whole-time director to non-executive, non-independent director— because of personal commitments. 

    Sinha, who previously helmed Sebi from 2011 to 2017, brings gravitas, while Goenka—a Forbes-recognised business maverick—adds entrepreneurial spark to the boardroom.

    Mittal, an ex-IAS  officer with a physics doctorate, completes this triumvirate of corporate heavy-hitters, promising continued governance sophistication.

  • Nimar Sarkaria joins Network18 as VP-content solutions

    Nimar Sarkaria joins Network18 as VP-content solutions

    MUMBAI: Veteran media professional Nimar Sarkaria has stepped into a new role as vice president – content solutions & network campaigns at Network18 Media & Investments Ltd, bringing over two decades of industry experience to one of India’s leading media conglomerates.

    Sarkaria joins Network18 after a brief but impactful nine-month stint as national sales head – branded content at India Today. Her appointment signals Network18’s aggressive push to bolster its content monetisation strategies across its vast portfolio of television and digital assets.

    Before her India Today chapter, Sarkaria spent over a decade in two separate stints at NDTV, most recently serving as senior vice president – brand solutions (sales) for more than four years. During her tenure, she led a 12-member team and developed monetisation strategies that significantly boosted the network’s revenue streams.

    Sarkaria’s CV reads like a who’s who of Indian media houses, with previous roles at Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (Times Group), Hindustan Times, CNBC TV18, Buena Vista Television, and Sony Pictures Networks India. At Hindustan Times, she handled an impressive portfolio as general manager of ad For equity.

    Throughout her career, Sarkaria has earned a reputation for exceeding sales targets. Her trophy cabinet includes accolades such as “CNBC TV18 Awaaz Super Achiever,” “Quarter Cracker For Highest Revenue Generation,” and “The Most Promising Team Leader,” underscoring her exceptional performance in the cut-throat world of media sales.

    Based in New Delhi, Sarkaria will be tasked with spearheading Network18’s content solutions initiatives and orchestrating network-wide campaigns in an increasingly challenging and competitive media landscape.

  • NDTV stalwart Sonia Singh ends three-decade affair with Indian news giant

    NDTV stalwart Sonia Singh ends three-decade affair with Indian news giant

    MUMBAI: In a bombshell announcement that’s sent shockwaves through India’s media landscape, NDTV’s editorial director Sonia Singh is to call it quits after a 32-year relationship with the broadcaster.

    The network confirmed yesterday that Singh, a senior management heavyweight and one of the most recognisable faces in Indian television, has handed in her notice “due to future career plans.”

    NDTV will bid farewell to Singh on 30 April, ending her three-decade stint at the network that began way back in September 1992 when India’s television landscape was still in nappies.

    Singh, who sports an impressive CV featuring a Master’s in English Literature from the prestigious St Stephen’s College, where she topped her class and ranked second in Delhi University, has been no mere talking head during her lengthy tenure.

    The brainy broadcaster also moonlit as a visiting fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School and sits on the Global Advisory Council of the World Woman Foundation.

    Her academic credentials include scooping an Italian government scholarship to study at the University of Perugia and nabbing the UK’s coveted Chevening Scholarship for a journalism course at Cardiff University – proof that there’s more between her ears than perfectly coiffed hair and teleprompter skills.

    As journalist Singh has grilled prime ministers and movie stars with equal aplomb.

  • Broadcasters pay premium in DD Free Dish auction, total revenue hits Rs 208 crore

    Broadcasters pay premium in DD Free Dish auction, total revenue hits Rs 208 crore

    MUMBAI: Leading broadcasters have secured slots in Prasar Bharati’s 85th e-auction for DD Free Dish, with the public broadcaster earning Rs 208.10 crore from eleven slots in the first two days of bidding.

    In the premium Bucket A+ category for Hindi general entertainment channels, Zee Anmol led the bidding at Rs 18.60 crore, followed by Star Utsav at Rs 18.25 crore and Big Magic at Rs 17.25 crore. Sony PAL, Colors Rishtey, and Sun Neo secured their slots at Rs 18.55 crore, Rs 18.35 crore, and Rs 18.50 crore respectively.

    The movie channel category (Bucket A) saw Star Utsav Movies securing a slot for Rs 16.95 crore, whilst Colors Cineplex Superhits, Sony Wah, and Zee Anmol Cinema followed with bids of Rs 16.50 crore, Rs 16.60 crore, and Rs 16.55 crore respectively.

    In the news category (Bucket C), NDTV India, now owned by the Adani Group, secured the first slot for Rs 14.35 crore, followed by Republic Bharat at Rs 14.20 crore. These rates marked a significant drop from last year when news channels paid between Rs 16.35 crore and Rs 18.95 crore.

    Notably, several channels including Zee Anmol, Star Utsav, Sony PAL, and Colors Rishtey returned to the platform after a three-year hiatus. The secured slots will be valid from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

    The robust bidding came despite a recent TRAI directive requiring pay-TV channels on DD Free Dish to become free-to-air across all platforms, demonstrating broadcasters’ continued interest in the platform’s extensive rural reach.

    (Some of these numbers have been accessed from The Economic Times)