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Tag: Raktim Das

  • News9 Plus creates iconic experiences at travel, wellness, weddings and MICE forum

    News9 Plus creates iconic experiences at travel, wellness, weddings and MICE forum

    Mumbai: As India reinforces its position as a bright spot in a world battling multiple crises, consumers too have found a new swagger. Their focus is evolving from conspicuous consumption towards a quest for more profound and experiential expressions of luxury.

    With luxury segment poised for glittering growth, News9 Plus, the news OTT from the house of TV9 Network, joined hands with Jyoti Mayal, president, TAAI and  Chander Mansharamani, MD of Alpcord Network Travel & Conferences Management Company, to create a platform where connoisseurs of luxury will converge.

    Visionary leaders representing travel, tourism, luxury, wellness, weddings, and conferences came together for an unparalleled and unforgettable experience at The iconic experiences Show on 16-17 October 2023, at Hyatt Regency in New Delhi.

    The event featured a series of Masterclasses, fireside chats, keynote presentations, and panel discussions, led by some of the most sought-after icons in their respective industries. “Sky’s the limit,” chimed veteran aviation leaders – Aditya Ghosh, co-founder of Akasa Air, and Kapil Kaul, CEO & director, CAPA Advisory. Mr. Nakul Anand, executive director, ITC Ltd, shared masterstrokes on sustainable luxury in an engaging Masterclass.

    Rupinder Brar, IT commissioner, Govt. of India; Dr. Jyotsna Suri, chairperson & managing director, Bharat Hotels Ltd; Varija Bajaj, fashion designer and Shobha Rudra from Rare India talked about women powering sustainability goals.

    Yoga & spiritual guru and diplomat Sadhvi Pragya, spiritual leader Sadhvi Praygya Bharti and Brajendra Nandan Das from ISKCON India ‘wowed’ the audience with their insights on ‘wellness’. Samit Garg, MD & co-founder, E-Factor Experiences Ltd.; Chetan Vohra, MD, line communications & wedding line; Vandana Mohan, founder, The Wedding Design Company; Dr. Sanjana Jon, social activist and fashion designer; and Asmita Chakraborty, Miss Tourism India 2021 were “Not so Knotty” in a panel discussion on weddings sector in India.

    The Luxperiencial event culminated on the 17 October with exclusive B2B meetings, power breakfast sessions with buyers, and networking opportunities during a captivating sundowner affair.

    On what prompted her to curate a platform to cater to the luxury segment, Mrs Mayal said: “After the pandemic, people wanted to explore travel beyond mundane itineraries. In revenge travel mode, they were seeking experiences. For this, travel agents have to think out-of-the-box ideas. However, this is easier said than done. That’s why we have come up with TIES, a platform which will provide travel agents an opportunity to interact with states, countries, attractions, DMCs directly and learn how they can add a luxurious element to their package.”

    Stating that India is ready to witness a transformative influence in travel, tourism, wellness, weddings and MICE sectors, TV9 Network  chief growth officer Raktim Das,said: “A pivotal shift is already happening, and in the years ahead, India will be one of the world’s foremost luxury markets.”

    Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, he added: “As World’s first news OTT, News9 Plus caters to a very niche segment of audience – people who want perspectives in the daily din of news, the upwardly mobile, knowledge worker, the experience seeking globe trotter. Tapping the same audience, we co-created this initiative and the content that was curated during is being amplified to a larger audience on News9 MediaVerse.”

    Some of the countries that participated in the exhibition are Sri Lanka, Saudi, Korea, Germany. In addition, there are multiple States and DMCs that have also confirmed participation.

    “I refuse to believe that the era of travel agents is over. It is the agents who need to up their game and TIES is a step in the direction to have them do so. This is exactly why we have not made it a closed-door event limited to only pre-booked meetings. In terms of buyers, we have invited golfers, wedding planners, HNIs, women influencers etc. and organised power breakfasts, Hi-Tea and created more such opportunities for the buyers and exhibitors to engage in quality interactions,” said Mrs. Mayal.

    Other eminent speakers at the event included Mukesh Kumar Meshram, principal secretary, tourism and culture department, UP Government; M D Sinha, principal secretary, Haryana tourism department; Gayatri Rathore, principal secretary, tourism; Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, principal secretary, tourism and cultural affairs, Govt. Of Punjab; Zubin Saxena, MD and senior area VP, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group; Meshaal M. Qureshi, trade markets director, Saudi Tourism Authority, and Mr. Hadigalage Chalaka Dev Gajabahu, chairman Sri Lanka tourism promotion bureau; Noel Swain, COO Evisa VAS & tourism services, VFS; Parveen Chander Kumar, EVP sales and marketing, Indian Hotels Company Ltd; Tarun Thakral, founder & managing trustee – Heritage Transport Museum; Ashish Gupta, founder: Strategy PLUTO & Consulting.

  • TV9 Network partners with Cloud TV

    TV9 Network partners with Cloud TV

    Mumbai: TV9 Network has joined forces with Cloud TV, a leading provider of advanced smart TV operating systems (OS), to enhance its presence in the connected TV space. This collaboration aims to amplify TV9 Network’s footprint in the connected TV realm, delivering an enriched and seamless television viewing experience to audiences across the nation through state-of-the-art technology.

    TV9 Network chief growth officer Raktim Das spoke about the collaboration, stating, “Our partnership with Cloud TV heralds an exciting phase in redefining how viewers interact with our channels through connected TV platforms. This collaboration marks a pivotal juncture in our quest to reshape television news viewing in India. Cloud TV’s cutting-edge smart TV OS technology, synergized with TV9 Network’s exceptional content, will create a distinct and captivating viewing experience for the audience.”

    Cloud TV COO Abhijeet Rajpurohit, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled to integrate TV9 Network’s News Channels for our users to stream for Free on their Cloud TV devices.  News channels hold a significant place in India’s television landscape, and our collaboration with TV9 Network enables our users to effortlessly access Live TV channels, eliminating the need for a DTH box or TV stick. TV9 Network’s extensive and multilingual news channels provide users with the opportunity to stay updated with the latest global news content right from their TV’s homepage, all at absolutely zero cost.”

    Cloud TV is renowned for its innovative smart TV solutions that deliver a truly smart and interactive experience on modern television devices. It has established itself as a leader in smart TV OS innovation, its ecosystem includes prime features, including Official Apps, Personalised Content Recommendations, Live TV Channels, Voice Assistant, Built-in App Store, Mobile Remote App for enhanced control, Effortless Universal Search, User Profiles, and much more. Currently boasting a user base exceeding 6 million, partnerships with over 150 esteemed smart TV brands, and collaborations with more than 200 content partners, Cloud TV is well-primed to redefine the future of news television in tandem with TV9 Network.

    TV9 Network boasts a diverse array of channels that cater to a wide range of audience. As part of this collaboration, Cloud TV will support the distribution of TV9 Network’s channels across various smart TV platforms. The distribution includes seven popular channels under the TV9 Network umbrella, which include: TV9 Bharatvarsh, TV9 Telugu, TV9 Kannada, TV9 Marathi, TV9 Gujarati, TV9 Bangla, News9 Live.

    This partnership is set to empower Indian viewers with a more interactive and immersive TV experience. By leveraging Cloud TV’s expertise in smart TV OS, TV9 Network aims to expand its reach and engage with viewers on a deeper level, ensuring that audiences can access their preferred news content seamlessly through connected TV devices.

  • TV9 Network launches free news channels on Samsung TV Plus

    TV9 Network launches free news channels on Samsung TV Plus

    Mumbai: TV9 Network, a television news network, is pleased to announce a collaboration with Samsung TV Plus India to extend its reach into the thriving world of Connected TV (CTV). This partnership reinforces TV9 Network’s commitment to delivering trustworthy news content to an ever-expanding audience base through the dynamic platform of Connected TVs.

    As part of this collaboration, TV9 Network will make its mark on Samsung TV Plus India, Samsung Electronics’ free ad-supported streaming TV service. Samsung Smart TV users will now have the opportunity to access TV9 Network’s top-notch news channels, including TV9 Bharatvarsh, TV9 Telugu, TV9 Kannada, and its latest offering in the English news genre, News9 Live, one of the pillars of the network’s futuristic news offering, News9 Mediaverse.

    The move into FAST underscores TV9 Network’s dedication to meeting its viewers where they are, and Connected TV represents a burgeoning medium for content consumption in India. According to industry reports, the number of CTVs in use is projected to rise from the current 22-25 million to 40 million by 2025. By collaborating with Samsung TV Plus India, TV9 Network aims to leverage the potential of CTV and strengthen its presence on the platform, with plans to introduce additional regional news channels in the near future.

    Commenting on this significant development, TV9 Network chief growth officer Raktim Das, said, “This marks a pivotal moment in our journey to provide high-quality news content to an even wider audience. In this rapidly evolving media landscape, it’s essential to engage with our viewers through their preferred platforms. With the rapid growth of CTVs, the partnership with Samsung TV Plus takes on paramount importance to us. We are starting with our flagship regional channels and plan to roll out more regional channels, reaffirming our status as a leading news network catering to diverse linguistic regions. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with Samsung TV Plus as we expand our channel offerings.”

    “Samsung TV Plus is excited to welcome TV9 Network to our platform. We are committed to offering our users a rich and diverse array of news content for free. This collaboration with TV9 Network aligns perfectly with our mission to provide top-quality content to our viewers, all for free,” said Samsung TV Plus India head of partnerships Kunal Mehta.

    Samsung TV Plus, Samsung’s 100 per cent free ad-supported streaming TV service (FAST), offers viewers access to more than 100 live TV channels in India, as well as thousands of movies and shows available live and on-demand for free, across millions of Samsung Smart TVs in India.

    This partnership promises to enhance the viewing experience for audiences by combining TV9 Network’s journalistic excellence with Samsung TV Plus India’s commitment to providing a diverse range of local and global news.

  • SAP India and TV9 Network team up for Dare To Dream Awards 2022

    SAP India and TV9 Network team up for Dare To Dream Awards 2022

    Mumbai: After receiving a tremendous response, SAP and the TV9 Network are returning with the Dare to Dream Awards to honour the “Pioneers of New India” from domestic businesses in 2021.

    As India celebrates 75 years of independence and plans its next 25-year journey to become a global leader, business pioneers have been and will continue to be the guiding light in realising this ambition. And this year, the Dare to Dream Awards will honour these business titans who are leading India’s charge toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.

    It captures the determined entrepreneurial journey of these outstanding SME entities to embrace a digital-first culture for innovation and growth, allowing India to make giant strides toward becoming a first-world country. 

    Commenting on the awards, SAP Indian Subcontinent president & managing director Kulmeet Bawa said, “SAP’s journey in India has always been aligned with nation-building programmes that have had a significant impact on over 300 million Indians. We have always believed in the combined strength of India’s mid-market and have promoted their development, whether it is serving as a technology partner to develop a workforce of the future, being a trusted advisor to the SME community, or boosting the nation’s innovation ecosystem. This programme aims to recognise and honour all business heroes leading us towards the development of the new India.”

    The awards also aim to honour corporate bravehearts who have persevered in the face of unpredictable, complex, and confusing situations that keep surprising them, particularly at a time when economies throughout the world are experiencing significant headwinds.

    Talking about TV9 Network’s commitment towards the India SME ecosystem, TV9 Network chief growth officer Raktim Das said: “SAP and TV9 Network stay invested in the idea of recognising SMEs to eventually help fully leverage their potential for the India growth story. India has emerged as the only bright spot in an otherwise faltering international economy. And SMEs have a huge role to play in insulating us from global shocks. And that’s why it’s critical to acknowledge our homegrown businesses. The Dare to Dream Awards are a tribute to all those visionary business leaders who have demonstrated innovation and a digital mindset, converting adversity into advantage. And we are happy to continue to be a part of this exciting journey with SAP.”

    SAP Indian Subcontinent Midmarket and Emerging Business vice president Rajeev Singh added, “Indian MSMEs and its business leaders hold power to transform not just India’s economy but also the lives of billions of Indians. They account for 27 per cent of the total contribution to India’s GDP, with considerable headroom for growth. As we celebrate 75 years of India’s independence, we are gearing up for the journey of the next 75 years, which is being shaped by pioneers of the new India.”

    The awards function will be held on 16 November, 2022 in Mumbai. It will be telecast on India’s leading national news channel, TV9 Bharatvarsh, with substantial digital amplification across TV9’s digital platforms.

  • TV9 Network onboards Munaf Merchant as VP – sales

    TV9 Network onboards Munaf Merchant as VP – sales

    Noida: As part of its aggressive expansion plans, TV9 Digital has strengthened its digital sales team further and onboarded Munaf Merchant as vice president – sales. Merchant will be responsible for building and driving direct revenue streams that cater to the TV9 Digital platforms bouquet.

    He will report to TV9 Digital president – revenue Azim Lalani.

    TV9 Network chief growth officer (digital and broadcasting) Raktim Das said, “Just like the broadcasting space, most of our digital platforms are already leaders in their respective markets. Advertisers are showing immense confidence in our ever-growing digital footprint.  We are aggressively pursuing ambitious growth objectives and Munaf’s appointment is another step in that direction.”

    Merchant comes with an experience of over a decade and was earlier associated with the Network 18 working there as national sales head for Brand Solutions & Convergence.

    “I am delighted to be entrusted with this responsibility. TV9 Digital is a perfect platform to channelise my abilities and at the same time showcase my creativity. As I take up this new opportunity, I will aim to deliver enhanced value to all our partners and clients,” said Merchant.

  • Guest column: Embracing uncertainty is the next normal

    Guest column: Embracing uncertainty is the next normal

    New Delhi: For the last decade or so, we have often seen many business managers and leaders speak about how we are operating in and living through what we believed are uncertain times. Economic downturn. Inflation. Recovery. Recession again, followed by revival, of a period of sustained growth.

    It’s a new world order where economic uncertainty has seemingly become the new normal. Many of us even started referring to this and connecting it with the acronym ‘VUCA’ to describe the more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. Digitisation, technology transformation, changing geopolitics, evolving business models, and a changing consensus on globalisation and trade have further accentuated the theory of uncertainty.

    But the Covid2019 pandemic has changed–our collective calculus of uncertainty. There has never been a time, the human world may have faced such a complex situation. There have been flu pandemics. There was the 2008 financial crisis. And there have been threats and disasters with local and/or national implications: Chernobyl, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina. The Covid2019 pandemic turned out to be more global in scope, frightfully impactful on the economy and society, and more complex than any other crisis that today’s decision-makers have experienced or contemplated.

    Embracing uncertainty and complexity has today assumed never-before-seen critical importance in our decision-making process.

    Consumers too have started reacting to uncertainties with different coping strategies, and we as marketers will need to respond to this, and more importantly, keep this as an essential influential factor in chalking our future business strategies. The unprecedented rate at which consumer behaviour shifts is weakening the predictive power of historical data. This means predictive models built on legacy data must also be supplemented by near-real-time alternatives, acknowledging shifts and adapting to them as they happen.

    Today, the power of scenario-thinking and building sensing capabilities in embracing uncertainties is the key.

    There is a fine balance between the opportunities created by uncertainty and the comforts provided by certainty. Leaders who achieve the balance will unravel growth. Uncertainty can ultimately enrich our lives, or diminish them. Instead of getting intimidated by it, embrace it.

    (The author is COO – TV9 Studio (digital & broadcasting), TV9 Network. The views expressed here are his own and indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them.)

  • Meet the Mentors, our leaders of global Bharat on TV9 Bharatvarsh

    Meet the Mentors, our leaders of global Bharat on TV9 Bharatvarsh

    At a time when India has been hit hardest among emerging economies, our entrepreneurs have stood strong in the face of economic headwinds.

    With the economy facing its toughest challenge in a century, TV9 Network in association with technology major SAP India brings to its viewers the leaders of home-grown businesses who continue to be the harbingers of hope in these times of gloom and doom.

    Leaders of Global Bharat series is an initiative to turn the spotlight on business mentors of home-grown firms. Airing every Sunday at 11:30m am on India’s leading news channel TV9 Bharatvarsh, the series will showcase success and Dare-to-Dream journey of over 150 entrepreneurs who have the potential to galvanise and inspire the youth and budding entrepreneurs of this country.

    Explaining the rationale behind the series, TV9 Studio COO Raktim Das said: “There’s never been a more apt time to look at robust leadership lessons that have steered businesses through these extraordinary times. The Covid-19 induced New Normal has sharpened the focus on business leaders who continue to inspire us, mentor us. The series is also an attempt to showcase that an Atmanirbhar Bharat is in the realms of possibilities. I thank SAP India for making this possible.” 

    Commenting on SAP India’s association with the campaign,  SAP India Subcontinent CCO and Head of Marketing Krishnan Chatterjee said: “Recently, SAP India launched Global Bharat program to provide MSME access to global marketplace, digital skilling their workforce and transform business processes. We are happy to partner with TV9 Network to highlight these stories of grit and determination for emerging and existing entrepreneurs, share our narrative of Hope, Resilience, Innovation and most importantly inspiration to digitally transform their businesses.”

    Their leadership will not only revolutionise the Start Up India Movement but also provide a shot in the arm to those willing to take the Leap of Faith. It’s time to make Vocal for Local the new business mantra.

    This is a multi-media approach to acknowledge the stellar role entrepreneurs play in our collective consciousness and bring to light the challenges they face on the way. From engaging webinars to inspirational tales, the initiative will move seamlessly between linear TV and digital.

  • TV9 Network appoints Gaurav Mehra as VP-revenue for TV9 Studio

    TV9 Network appoints Gaurav Mehra as VP-revenue for TV9 Studio

     NEW DELHI: Network has hired Gaurav Mehra as VP of its TV and digital convergence specialist unit, TV9 Studio. He will be reporting to Raktim Das, who recently joined as the COO of this business unit.

    Before joining TV9 Network, Mehra was national vertical head at Zee Innovation Studio. An alumnus of Faculty of Management (FMS), Delhi University and comes with a diverse experience of almost 2 decades in FMCG, Telecom, Radio, & Broadcast. He has held multiple positions with groups like Network18 Group, Reliance Broadcast Network Limited (BIG FM & BIG MAGIC), Idea Cellular Limited (Spice), Vodafone India (Hutch).

    TV9 Studio has been set up as a specialist unit that will enable the convergence of traditional TV and digital. Besides developing content products, TV9 Studio will offer innovative business solutions to brands, design platform-agnostic content to weave brand stories and sustain meaningful conversations with consumers.

    TV9 Network comprises four regional language leaders in TV9 Telugu, TV9 Kannada, TV9 Marathi and TV9 Gujarati, and the national Hindi news channel TV9 Bharatvarsh, which has earned a place for itself in the league of the Top 3.

  • Prasanna Raghav appointed VP for The Studio9 by TV9 Network

    Prasanna Raghav appointed VP for The Studio9 by TV9 Network

    NEW DELHI: After appointing Raktim Das as the COO of The Studio9, TV9 has now hired Prasanna Raghav as the VP of its TV and digital convergence specialist unit. Besides developing content products, The Studio9 will offer innovative business solutions to clients, design platform-agnostic content to weave brand stories, and sustain meaningful conversations with consumers.

    TV9 Network CEO Barun Das said, “We are creating a symbiotic relationship between the incumbent linear TV and fledgling digital businesses through a robust Studio approach that will drive convergence. The Network is aggressively pursuing its ambitious digital business goals and is currently identifying the right talent for the same. Raktim joined us recently to lead the convergence business and we are happy to have Prasanna on board to reinforce the team.”

    Das added, “We are bringing together some of the finest professionals in the industry with the proven expertise of having created pioneering, benchmark-setting initiatives. Prasanna’s appointment is a step in this direction. He has straddled both content and revenue and is best suited to bring in his unique experience to the table.”

    Before joining TV9 Network, Raghav was VP, innovation studio, and custom content, at Zee Entertainment Enterprises.

    An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow and Asian College of Journalism, Raghav in his earlier stint as a journalist has worked with leading publications like The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express besides taking up a brief assignment in the Middle East.

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  • TV9 appoints Raktim Das as COO of Studio9

    TV9 appoints Raktim Das as COO of Studio9

    NEW DELHI: Beefing up its management team and adding momentum to its pan-network digital expansion plans, TV9 Bharatvarsh announced the appointment of former Zee executive cluster head, innovation studio, and custom content Raktim Das as COO of its property Studio9. 

    In his new role, Das will be responsible for driving the convergence of TV and digital revenue function, with focus on branded content innovation. He will be mandated with setting up an independent profit centre that will design and monetise Web+TV custom content products across multiple language platforms. He will also be responsible for building talent relationships and strategic partnerships for nurturing new growth avenues.

    TV9 Network CEO Barun Das said, “Studio9 is a concept which will enable the convergence of traditional TV and digital in our network. Digital is the future – Hindi and regional news will certainly make a transition from traditional TV to web format. This convergence in the revenue field is of extreme importance. Studio9 will also work with clients to develop creative solutions for their communication challenge. Raktim is certainly the best in the industry to build it from scratch.”

    Looking ahead, Barun Das added that the expects the way the M&E industry conducts its business to change drastically in the post-Covid2019 world. “Those who will adapt to solution-driven models in business, with the infusion of right technology, will lead the revival. While the broader economic environment will be highly challenging, the television news industry will possibly be better off compared to other genres,” Barun Das pointed out

    Raktim Das said, “I am looking forward to be part of the TV9 family. I see huge opportunity for growth in the language markets as nine out of every 10 new internet users in India are likely to be Indian language users. In the new normal, when we are all managing tight business situations, clients and agencies are looking for compelling solutions that are woven around smart innovation to enable purpose-driven, meaningful brand engagement. Ultimately, driving cross-screen engagement will provide the edge to brands.”

    Barun Das added, “I believe that video content across linear TV and digital platforms will converge before completely shifting to digital model. Our digital business model will centre around 3Cs: content, context, and commerce. To me, the digital content business is as much a tech business. Technology is a differentiator and not an enabler. Then comes the ability to innovate as per changing viewers taste.” 

    Prior to Raktim Das’s induction, the network had in June made some strategic leadership moves, including promotion of erstwhile President Sales, Vikram K as COO south to drive the group’s flagship channels TV9 Telugu and TV9 Kannada, while Amit Tripathi was brought on board from Network 18 to serve as the new chief revenue officer.

    In his previous assignment as executive cluster head – innovation studio & custom content at Zee Entertainment, collaborated with leading brands to co-create many award-winning content campaigns. Raktim collaborated with leading brands to co-create many award-winning content campaigns. His media career features many success stories in organizations like the Times of India, India Today Group, Zee Media Corporation Limited, and Network 18.