ITV

Tag: NewsX

  • Gautam Bhanot joins NewsX as national revenue head

    Gautam Bhanot joins NewsX as national revenue head

    MUMBAI: ITV Network, which runs news channels NewsX and India News, has roped in Gautam Bhanot as the national revenue head for its English channel. He will be responsible for the overall sales and revenue generation of NewsX.

    He will focus on growing the top line while also looking at creating new revenue streams and opportunities. Bhanot has 16 years of experience with his last sting being at Network18 where he was national sales head for CNN-IBN for nine years.

    Prior to this, he was with CNN-IBN, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz as VP sales for north region. He’s also worked with The Times of India, Economic Times and Tej Bandhu Group.

    ITV Network MD Kartikeya Sharma said, “Gautam brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be invaluable in unlocking the potential value of brand NewsX. I am confident that Gautam with his in depth understanding of media sales combined with his dynamism and leadership as a sales professional will be a great asset to the organisation.”

    ITV Network group CEO RK Arora said, “We are delighted to have Gautam on board at this exciting time of growth and expansion at ITV Network. We are certain that his experience and understanding of the business will benefit NewsX as we strive to continue to be the market leader in English news genre, in line with ITV Network’s objective of becoming India’s profitable and largest TV news network.”

    Bhanot said, “I believe the industry is going through a transformational phase wherein programming formats, news consumption patterns, technology platforms all are evolving and hence the opportunity to learn and contribute is immense. My agenda will be to enhance the offerings of NewsX and partner with new and existing clients, to deliver delight and grow the revenue stream.”

  • Savvy Dilip joins ITV Network as group CMO

    Savvy Dilip joins ITV Network as group CMO

    MUMBAI: ITV Network that runs news channels NewsX and India News has made another appointment. Savvy Dilip has been appointed as the group chief marketing officer. She will report to group CEO RK Arora.

     

    As CMO, Dilip will be responsible for marketing activites, including marketing strategy, creating flagship events, brand building and digital marketing for the ITV Network.

     

    Prior to this, Dilip was co-founder and COO of Vigovea Media, a consumer focused digital media company. She was also the vice president marketing at TV18 where she was responsible for the marketing operations of CNN-IBN and IBN7. Dilip comes with experience in the media space covering brand management and development, product development and management, strategic alliances, content development, events and experiential marketing, sales enablement and PR across various media.

     

    Speaking on her appointment, ITV Network managing director Kartikeya Sharma said, “Savvy is an outstanding addition to our leadership team and brings a unique blend of global experience and expertise to ITV Network. Her extensive background in the media industry, proven marketing expertise, and rich experience makes her the ideal person to continue to drive our brand’s growth and momentum.”

     

    “Savvy’s exceptional marketing expertise will allow us to further enhance our strategic marketing initiatives across the company,” said Arora. “With Savvy coming on board at this juncture, we really feel optimistic that this will further boost the aggressive growth track we are set to follow and will enhance our revenue stream.”

     

    Talking about her new association, Dilip said, “It is a great opportunity for me to contribute towards further consolidating and cementing ITV Network’s leadership position in the news genre. The group has tremendous impact and the company is backed by the most cohesive team in the media industry. My focus is to increase the engagement between our brands, advertisers and our viewers.”

     

    Dilip has done her executive management program from IIM-Bangalore and has completed the advanced management program from the Harvard Business School in Boston USA. 

  • Rahul Shivshankar is now NewsX editor in chief

    Rahul Shivshankar is now NewsX editor in chief

    MUMBAI: The spate of changes at ITV Network that runs NewsX and India News continues. The latest is the elevation of current managing editor of NewsX Rahul Shivshankar to the post of editor in chief of the English news channel.

     

    He had joined NewsX in September 2013 in his second stint at the channel. Shivshankar is the face of the channel’s weekday prime time show Nation@9:00pm and India Debates.

     

    Prior to rejoining NewsX, he was executive editor of Headlines Today and senior editor at Times Now. He has also worked on the editorial page of Times of India. He has a total of 20 years of experience.

     

    Speaking on his elevation, ITV Network managing director Kartikeya Sharma said, “I am delighted to recognise the talent of Rahul Shivshankar. He is a celebrated name in the news fraternity and has an incredible drive and vision, which makes him a wonderful choice to lead the channel. Bringing in talent of the caliber of Rahul and enlarging his role, will allow Rahul and his team to accelerate our move into a continuous and dynamic model of innovating in the news genre. Under Rahul’s tenure, NewsX has become India’s leading English news channel with a consistent performance of being a market leader and in a short span time, it has attained a leadership edge over its competition and is a force to reckon with in the English news genre. Rahul has been instrumental in reorganising content strategies and news operations with greater creativity and flexibility and has developed more cohesive and unique experiences for our audiences. He’s been everything I could ever want in an editor and I cannot imagine a better choice at NewsX for editor in chief. Congratulations Rahul—you more than deserve it.” 

     

    His first stint at the channel was between 2011 and 2012. He was also one of the core members who launched Headlines Today in 2003.

     

    ITV Network group CEO RK Arora feels that this move will strengthen the network’s commitment to become India’s largest and most profitable TV news network. “We have assembled the most talented journalists in ITV Network and Rahul’s elevation as editor in chief will help us leverage his skills and experience to deliver breaking news with context and perspective on the most important stories. I am confident that Rahul will bring NewsX to greater heights than it’s ever known.”

     

    Shivshankar has extensively documented the attack on Nariman House in Mumbai on 26 November 2008 in an anthology of investigative narratives published by Roli Books.

     

    “I am deeply honored. I have been blessed with a team of incredibly talented and creative people that work tirelessly to bring to life stories told with a rare degree of nuance, objectivity and accuracy. This collective effort and enterprise has catapulted News X to a leadership position in the English news space. This role provides me with an exciting opportunity to shape the future of news TV,” said Shivshankar.

  • ITV Network’s RK Arora elevated to group CEO

    ITV Network’s RK Arora elevated to group CEO

    MUMBAI: ITV Network that runs news channels News X and India News has given a boost to its senior management. Current CEO of its broadcasting initiatives, RK Arora has been elevated as the group CEO of the Network.

     

    “I’m delighted to announce his well-deserved promotion,” said ITV Network managing director Kartikeya Sharma. “I am confident that with his deep industry knowledge and collegial working style, he’ll continue to strengthen ITV Network’s position in the marketplace. He has been instrumental to the highly positive momentum which ITV Network enjoys today and has in the past two years, in his capacity as CEO broadcasting, worked towards attaining leadership position for ITV network and taking it to greater heights. His astute business acumen and expertise has helped ITV Network solidify its position in the news genre. Under his tenure all our products have become market leaders and as a group we have worked hard to deliver value for our advertisers. Not only have we fulfilled our commitments, but have also delivered more than what we had targeted. With this thought process, I am sure he will achieve many more milestones. Our company’s objective is to become India’s largest TV news network and the most profitable one as well. I am sure that ITV network will definitely achieve its objectives under his leadership.”

     

    Arora will assume overall responsibility of strategic and operational management of the ITV Network and oversee the group’s diverse portfolio of assets spanning news broadcasting.

     

    Speaking on his elevation, Arora said, “I am humbled to lead ITV Network as Group CEO. In spite of challenging and demanding environment both our brands NewsX and India News have been able to carve a niche for themselves. I firmly believe that with Kartikeya’s support and ITV Network’s formidable talent, we are well poised to continue to deliver superior results in today’s increasingly competitive market and take the network to greater heights. India News and NewsX are now a preferred choice for advertisers as they are delivering strong performance week on week. In a short span of time, NewsX and India News have carved a value proposition in the mind of the advertisers and have been consistently over delivering.”

     

    Arora had taken charge of the network in 2012 after being CEO of BAG Network for nearly 2 years. Prior to that, he was the executive director and CFO at India TV. He has an experience in the industry of nearly 22 years.

     

    The ITV Network consists of News X, India News Hindi and its regional channels, Good Morning India Media and The Sunday Guardian.

  • RIP Jehangir Pocha: A journalist & a gentleman

    RIP Jehangir Pocha: A journalist & a gentleman

    To most viewers, he looked fit as a fiddle. Hence, when news broke that NewsX editor in chief Jehangir Pocha had breathed his last, it came as a shocker. Some had only spoken to him the previous evening, others last week, or very recently, or like us earlier this year when he attended the Indian Digital Television Honours in New Delhi as a representative of the ITV group.

     

    At first glance, Jehangir came across as a cool, calm, collected sort of a chap. A cultured Parsi gentleman used to speaking softly in measured tones when he encountered you in person. Beneath that mild-mannered exterior ran a probing journalistic mind, which posed many an incisive question that put those he interviewed on the 9X News channel on the spot.  

     

    But unlike other celebrity news anchors on other English news channels who indulge in histrionics and one-sided shrill shouting matches, he gave his guests a chance to speak. His questions begged an answer, and respond guests had to, because Jehangir would not let them get away without doing so. Whether it was the former chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit or Amitabh Bachchan or Anna Hazare.

     

    He was only a phone call away for us at the indiantelevision.com group and general manager Anoop Wanvari would oft reach out to him to partner with our various ground initiatives which he willingly did, even when he was finding it a struggle to keep NewsX going.  We are grateful to him for his support in our times of need.

     

    A former colleague, Indrajit Gupta, the founding editor of Forbes India, writes in an obituary piece in BusinessWorld, that he got a call early last week from him, saying he was frustrated with the Indian system and he was dying to go back abroad.

     

    “He sounded agitated. Venture capitalists had promised him they’d step in after the elections. But they hadn’t to back his plans. He wanted to bid for some distressed media assets in play,” writes Gupta in his obit. “The frustration was beginning to creep in.”

     

    His last tweet on the night before he passed away mentioned that he was “hurrying home” with a news clip (about a Bombay High Court judgment that stated that reaching home late consistently without informing your wife amounts to cruelty) attached to it.

     

    His demise prompted member of parliament Derek O’Brien to tweet: “The high pressure life of TV journalism?  Appan Menon at 49, SP Singh at 49 and today @JehangirPocha at 45 NewsX. Gone too soon.”

     

    And that’s a question which begs answering: is the high pressure life of TV news journalism getting to those in it?  They may not know it, but it probably is. When you are working in the business of television news, you are working in a pressure-cooker environment.  

     

    Deadlines because of the competitive nature of the business, irregular meals, pressure from affected vested interests while reporting, reporting from dangerous and conflict zones, keeping pace with the latest developments – the news journalist is on a treadmill that never seems to be stopping.

     

    For the managements of news organisations, they have to additionally deal with rising costs not accompanied by revenue increases; carping advertising partners disturbed by news reports; maintaining, nay, improving viewership ratings, innovating with changing technology and what have you.

     

    One can say that all these pressures are intrinsic – and have been so for long – to running a news channel. But they have been magnified in the recent past in India with increasing competition and the rapid commercialisation of news. It is quite likely that these will exacerbate further.

     

    Jehangir was under pressure. His channel was in keen competition with the English language news leader Times Now.  He wanted to expand his company’s business footprint, could not for want of capital and was thus frustrated, which added to his pressure.

     

    Therefore it’s about time TV news organisations introspected and even made those that are employed with them look deep within. Regular health checks, exercise, and leading a well-paced daily routine generally should be encouraged even more.

     

    It could go some way in preventing many more from going the Jehangir Pocha, Appan Menon, and SP Singh way.

  • NewsX editor-in-chief Jehangir Pocha passes away

    NewsX editor-in-chief Jehangir Pocha passes away

    MUMBAI: The pressure-filled TV news business has had another casualty. Jehangir Pocha, the co-promoter of  IndiMedia Pvt Ltd, which earlier owned the NewsX channel, died earlier this morning in Gurgaon following a cardiac arrest. 

     

    Pocha came into the limelight after he worked out a rescue package  to bail out the channel in 2009 along with Nai Duniya CEO Vinay Chhajlani. Launched originally by the eighties poster boy of television – Peter Mukerjea – as part of the INX Media group, it had fallen up on troubled times soon after its launch in 2008. Pocha was editor in chief at BusinessWorld maagazine when he partnered with Chhajlani.

     

    NewsX continued, but desperately needed cash to run and Pocha and Chhajlani found a buyer in the Kartikeya Sharma owned Information TV (part of the ITV Group) and its associates in mid-2012. Even as Chhajlani exited, Pocha continued as the channel’s editor in chief.

     

    Born in Mumbai, Pocha did his Bachelors in Economics in 1990, followed by an MBA in Marketing in 1992 from the SP Jain Institute, Mumbai University. Later, he also did his Masters in Public Administration, Media and foreign policy from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

     

    Pocha was The Boston Globe’s Beijing-based China correspondent from 2003-2007. Prior to that he spent about a decade in the IT industry, holding management positions with start-ups and Fortune 500 companies in the US and Singapore.

     

    His passing away has been mourned by many. Amomg them the prime minister Narendra Modi who said: “I am shocked and saddened to hear about Jehangir Pocha’s demise. I pay my condolence to his family in this hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace.”

     

    The  Broadcast Editors’ Association sent out  a statement condoling his sad demise: “It is big loss to the world of TV journalism. Jehangir was a dear colleague of ours and was a guiding force in BEA’s activities.”

     

    Former IBN18 editor in chief Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted, “Deep condolences to family of Jehangir Pocha. Life is transient, but was lived well. RIP”

     

    Anupam Kher’s tweet: “Can’t believe that is no more. Just spoke to him few days back. One of the best journalists & human beings. So so sad. RIP”

     

    Senior news TV journalist Dibang  tweeted: “Oh suddenly passes away Life is transient, can end suddenly; we plan for future, now is the only moment we have:

     

    Colors TV CEO Raj Nayak had this to say in his tweet: “A friend who tweeted 10 hrs ago, who came to meet me few days back to discuss his future plans is suddenly no more RIP “

     

    Journalist and digital entrepreneur Govind Ethiraj tweeted “RIP wonderful guy, India’s best China journalist, great writer.”

     

    The soft spoken Pocha’s tweeted late last night: “Hurrying Home…”

     

    Pocha’s tweet was in response to a news clipping that he had attached with it. It referred to a High court judgement stating that “constantly reaching home late from work without informing your wife amounts to cruelty. “

     

    He is survived by his wife Ranjana and twins.

     

    RIP!  Jehangir.

  • This FIFA, news channels will even the score

    This FIFA, news channels will even the score

     MUMBAI: It’s raining goals this FIFA World Cup. Favourites are being kicked out while the underdogs are rising up the points table. And news channel are now vying to latch on to the football fever by focusing on dedicated FIFA shows and content.

     

    Official FIFA broadcaster, Sony Six, has associated with India’s premier news channel Times Now, to provide excerpts from their two shows: Café Rio and Football Extraaa, but not match content. Times Now utilises this exclusive content consisting of expert analysis for its sports slot between 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

     

     According to Sony Six assistant vice president marketing Murtuza Madraswala the association with the newscaster will benefit them both. He says, “We are happy to associate with Times Now as there is a synergy in our passion for the sport and we cater to a similar profile of target audience. FIFA World Cup is the greatest sporting extravaganza and this partnership only adds to the magic and the fervour of the greatest party in the world!”

     

     Other major news channels too have joined the FIFA bandwagon by bringing in dedicated shows with big names associated as anchors and guests. Some of these channels include ABP News, ABP Ananda, CNN-IBN, IBN7, Headlines Today, NewsX and Al Jazeera.

     

     Headlines Today has come up with Carniball2014: Brazil which is aired between 7 pm to 8 pm every night. It covers performances and off-field developments with pre and post analysis of the games.

     

     The guest line up for Carniball2014, anchored by Shivani Gupta, comprises of former India manager Eric Benny, sports historian and consulting editor from Kolkata Boria Majumdar, former India skipper and current ISL football team owner Sourav Ganguly, I- league winning coach of Bengaluru FC team Ashley Westwood, super model Gabriela Bertante, soccer expert Roy Hay and director of the national football museum in Manchester Kevin Moore.

     

    The ABP group’s main show Duniya Gol Hai is aired at 8:30 am and 10:30 pm. The morning version focuses on match results, golden boot contenders and light features whereas the evening show is primarily a preview based show looking at players to watch out for and the games to expect. The group’s impressive guest lineup has famous Indian midfielder Renedy Singh whose career graph extends 14 long years. Joining him is football commentator Ghaus Mohammad and the show is anchored by GS Vivek along with a news anchor and two correspondents who are covering FIFA from Brasil.

     

    The ABP group, through ABP Ananda, has also focused on the regional Bengali market where a large football fan base exists. MCCS marketing manager Vikas Singh says, “Through ABP Ananda we have a battery of experts and a round the clock coverage catering extensively to the high fan base market like Bengal. For us, FIFA World Cup is not a sports event but a news event.”

     

    Network18’s CNN-IBN and IBN7 are not far behind. A Beautiful Game airs on CNN-IBN while Mission Brazil airs on IBN7. The expert lineup includes renowned former Moroccan footballer and coach Karim Bencherifa, football analyst and commentator Novy Kapadia and former captain and coach of the Indian football team Shabbir Ali.

     

    Commenting on the network’s special programming, IBN18 Network editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “Football has a massive fan following in India and our extensive programming will be an absolute treat for the football enthusiasts of the nation. The programming will focus on providing extensive coverage of the tournament including unmatched analysis of the strategies adopted by various teams and a scrutiny of the players’ performances.”

     

    Tapping into the FIFA fever, Al Jazeera English has introduced Football Rebels, a show presented and narrated by former Manchester United star Eric Cantona. It is a five part documentary that sheds light on some unusual stories of football heroes.

     

     Meanwhile, News X has a special show-War of the World aired from Monday to Friday at 8:30 am and 6:30 pm and7:30 pm on Saturday and Sundays. Its morning show features guests like former EPL footballer with Liverpool Mark Seagraves, football journalist Anurag Jacob and News X consulting editor Ayaz Memon. War of the World is anchored by sports anchor Anil Senghera.

     

     India News has launched Dan Dana Dan which is broadcast daily at 7:30 am and 6:30 pm. Dan Dana Dan is anchored by  Rajeev Mishra along with a guest line up of ex FIFA referee Melvyn Da Souza, former Mohan Bagan coach Santosh Kayshap and former India players Mahesh Gawli and Shamsi Raza.

     

     To make the shows more engaging and interactive in nature, a few of the news channels have realised that it is extremely important to engage with netizens and make them active viewers rather than just passive audiences. Headlines Today has two contests – a Carniball Weekly Contest and Trivia of the Day. Participants stand a chance to win Adidas FIFA merchandise and a Maruti Suzuki Swift Car. On twitter the channel has been engaging with the twitterati by creating the hashtag #Carniball2014. These tweets are displayed on air during the show.

     

    For those who think that news channels only show political news seem to forget that FIFA is not just a sport; it’s a news maker and audience capturer all by itself!

  • Javadekar clears air about 100 % FDI in news

    Javadekar clears air about 100 % FDI in news

    MUMBAI: Information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar, in an exclusive interview to NewsX, cleared the air about the Centre mulling over to allow 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in news media.

     

    Talking to NewsX’s Senior Executive Editor Priya Sahgal, Javadekar said, “I never said ok to 100 percent FDI. We haven’t said it. Never.”

     

    The minister asserted that “it’s the industry which has to take the call.”

     

     “People are discussing, let them discuss. Will talk with all stakeholders,” he added.

     

    Currently, foreign investment is allowed only up to 26 per cent in news and current affairs media.

     

  • YouTube’s your one stop shop for 16th Lok Sabha Elections results

    YouTube’s your one stop shop for 16th Lok Sabha Elections results

    MUMBAI: All the action will shift to Delhi, as Indians all over the world wait for the verdict of the world’s largest democracy. But you don’t need to be in the nation’s capital to be a part of it. YouTube will be your one stop source of news on Indian Elections 2014 and will deliver each big moment live.

    On YouTube, viewers will be able to catch all the counting day action as it unfolds across Television news networks who will be live streaming their programming on YouTube through the day. Viewers all over the world will be able to catch the special election coverage and programmes of various news organizations live on YouTube.

    YouTube has partnered with all leading broadcast news players to bring live news to users for the elections results. Users will be able to follow all the action by choosing their favorite news outlet including regional news channels and stay tuned to the news in the language of their choice. To make this happen, YouTube has partnered with IBN Live, Headlines Today, Times Now, NDTV, Boom News, Gateway House, NewsX, DD News, Rajya Sabha TV, News Laundry, TV9,  Sun News, Firstpostin & YouthKiAwaaz and many more to let users watch their election coverage and special shows.

    Tune in and keep up with the latest news on Indian Elections 2014 at: –

     

  • NewsX launches ‘Mandate with Destiny’ with Vir Sanghvi

    NewsX launches ‘Mandate with Destiny’ with Vir Sanghvi

    MUMBAI: Soon after coming up with new look providing viewers a clean, sharp, and soothing viewing experience, India’s new news leader, NewsX is launching an unique new show  ‘Mandate with Destiny’ with distinguished journalist and TV show host Vir Sanghvi.  

    ‘Mandate with Destiny’ is a show that tells the story of the making of modern India through the elections that have shaped our country.

    Speaking on the occasion, Kartikeya Sharma, MD, iTV Network which owns and runs NewsX & India News said “We are happy to launch one of its kind show on NewsX. Vir’s understanding of Indian political landscape will provide invaluable insights as he takes us through a momentous journey of the historic elections that shaped modern India. I am confident that the show will generate a huge level of excitement amongst viewers”

    Written and presented by Vir Sanghvi, the show unites archival footage, personal insights and interviews with many of the key players to provide a gripping narrative that makes the complexities of Indian politics instantly accessible.

    R K Arora, CEO, iTV Network said – “NewsX election programming DECISION 2014 has been exhaustively covering the key issues, the various battlegrounds and campaign trails. We believe that this show with Vir will add a new dimension to our programming mix and will connect well with both our viewers and advertisers.”

    Vir Sanghvi said “This is a show that takes you behind the scenes and gives you an insider’s perspective on Indian elections. It makes the great names of Indian politics – from Indira Gandhi to Narendra Modi come alive and tells you the stories behind the stories.”

    ‘Mandate with Destiny’ goes on air from Friday, 4th April 2014. It will be a weekly show, every Friday 10 pm.