ITV

Tag: RK Arora

  • 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.

  • The Times Now, India News blackout in Uttar Pradesh

    The Times Now, India News blackout in Uttar Pradesh

    MUMBAI: Two major news channels – Times Now and India News – were blacked out over the weekend in Uttar Pradesh, following their criticism of  the lavish Saifai Mahotsav ceremony by the Akhilesh Yadav-run government in the state. The black out of the two channels was done following unofficial orders from government officials, local cable TV operators have confessed to the media.  However, both Times Now and India News were back on most cable TV networks in the state, though the latter was was still not available in Lucknow and Faizabad, at the time of writing.

     

    The black out  has disturbed both the government and the news broadcast industry. Information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari candidly remarked yesterday that his ministry would fast track TRAI’s recommendations on cable TV monopolies in various states to prevent operators from misusing their dominance. 

     

    Times Television Network CEO Sunil Lulla spoke to indiantelevision.com, saying that the issue was a matter of fundamental rights. “We completely echo the thoughts of the minister on monopolisation. There cannot be any arbitrariness,” he says. 

     

    India News which is a Hindi channel says that nearly 25 per cent of its viewership comes from UP. And, it lost a large part of that in the past two days.  “Our channel has been switched off since 10 January and although no one is coming out in the open we have heard that they have been ordered to do so. Our channel is still missing in Lucknow and Faizabad which are important strongholds. So, we are still discussing with the local cable TV ops to get it back on as soon as possible,” says ITV Network (India News and News X) CEO R K Arora. 

     

    Some fingers have been pointed toward MSO DEN Networks which has a large share of cable TV subscribers in Uttar Pradesh for giving into government pressure and switching off the two channels. However, DEN COO M. Azhar disagrees that there was any pressure from any quarter. Pooh-poohing claims that there was a large scale blackout from his network, he says that it was restricted to only a few local cable TV operators. 

     

    “All channels are now running on our network and it was only a few people who had done it for sometime but now everything is restored,” he says. 

     

    Lulla, while agreeing that his channel has been restored, states that “a standard process needs to be followed by both the broadcaster as well as the MSO and no disconnection can be done without notice. It was probably some state officials who had jumped the gun.” 

  • NewsX partners with Aidem Ventures to recalibrate pricing with improved performance

    NewsX partners with Aidem Ventures to recalibrate pricing with improved performance

    India’s leading HD-ready English News Channel, NewsX has awarded its advertising sales duties to Aidem Ventures.

     

    Part of ITV Network, NewsX is now India’s No. 1 English News Channel on the basis of 21 week combined GVTs. Even in terms of stickiness the channel has been witnessing more Time Spent Per Viewer than any other English News Channel in India. [Source: TAM | All India (1 Mn+) (incl. 6 Metros) | CS M 25-44 AB | Wk 19 -Wk 39’13, combined GVTs and average TSPV]. To monetize its current position, it has partnered with India’s leading independent advertising sales company – Aidem Ventures.

     

    The channel’s leadership is well established over the last 21 weeks as per the TAM ratings. With its clean presentation and unbiased content, NewsX targets the younger, aspirational audiences who appreciate and demand well-researched, thought-provoking news. With its focus on ‘News. Not Noise’, NewsX differentiates itself from its competitors in staying away from hysteria and sensationalism.

     

    Post digitization in 38 cities, NewsX has augmented its viewership by 260%. This performance has been consistently growing since the markets have gone digital. Research showcased a void in the offering in super prime bands for pure news dissemination resulting in high performance amongst the large part of younger audiences in addition to the other age groups. NewsX stands by its tagline and with its unassuming presentation style has managed to come across as a breath of fresh air. NewsX didn’t want to tread up any existing pathways in terms of style and news delivery and wanted a completely independent identity. This strategy has paid off said Vikas Khanchandani, Director, Aidem Ventures while discussing the new business win.

     

    “This association reflects our vision to pursue NewsX’s successful positioning as a strong, robust media platform among Indian advertisers & agencies. NewsX’s high-quality content, well-established reputation, latest video technology and rising TAM numbers will have a synergistic effect on the channel’s revenue generation.  NewsX has been focusing on interactive shows and intend to introduce other new exciting formats in the near future. Aidem has been managing Ad Sales some of the biggest News brands from India and abroad. We are very optimistic about their sales infrastructure and their professional management team working in favor of our plan for NewsX” added RK Arora, CEO, ITV Network.

  • Arti Machama joins ITV Network as VP sales

    MUMBAI: ITV Network has appointed Arti Arora Machama as the new vice president, sales. Machama will be responsible for revenue generation for the broadcast division of ITV Network which includes NewsX, India News National along with five regional news channels.

    She will report to ITV Network CEO RK Arora. Her role at the network includes augmenting fresh strategies thereby enhancing the growth in terms of market share as well as revenues for the group channels.

    Machama has 14 years of experience in business development. She has worked with brands like Star India, Zee News and BAG network.

    Arora said, “We are thrilled to have Arti aboard. In the wake of digitalization and various changes within our organization structure, we are sure that Arti will add immense value to the organization considering her strong leadership skills and extensive experience. We wish her the best for this new challenge.”

    Machama said “I am delighted to join ITV Network. I look forward to heading revenue operations of ITV network channels and taking them to greater heights.”

  • BAG Network creates CEO post, hires Arora

    BAG Network creates CEO post, hires Arora

    MUMBAI: B.A.G Network has appointed RK Arora as CEO of its broadcasting initiatives.

    In the newly created post, Arora will look after the complete operations of Hindi news channel News24, Bollywood channel E24 and FM radio business Dhamaal24. He will also be responsible for the expansion plans of the network.  
         
      Before joining B.A.G. Network, Arora was associated with Independent News Service since inception which launched India TV in 2004. A Chartered Accountant by profession, he was CFO and executive director of the company.

    Arora said, “I am pleased to join B.A.G. Network which has different verticals such as television, radio, teleport services, TV serials, film production and media institute and with my vast experience of 14 years in media, I will be able to enhance the growth of the Network.”

    B.A.G Films and Media CMD Anurradha Prasad said, “With an experience of over 14 years and his grip on the media industry and distribution network including technology implications, he is going to help B.A.G Network reach new milestones.”