ITV

Tag: Telugu general entertainment channel

  • Marar replaces KS Sarma as Maa TV CEO

    Marar replaces KS Sarma as Maa TV CEO

    MUMBAI: Maa TV Network, which owns and operates Telugu general entertainment channel Maa TV, has appointed Sharradh Marar as its chief executive officer. He replaces former Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma who has been in charge for only a few months.

    Marar has a long association with the film industry and is said to be close to superstars Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna. Late last year the company restructured its shareholding with Chiranjeev, Nagarjuna and Matrix Laboratories Ltd (a listed company) promoter N Prasad acquiring 60 per cent stake.

    Sarma was then roped in to head the company. He will, however, continue as advisor to Maa TV Network. “I have taken over as CEO and Sarma will stay as advisor to the company. My immediate focus will be to consolidate our channel’s position and try out ways to increase our market share,” says Marar.

    Marar was heading the southern operations in Amitabh Bachchan’s company ABCL. Later he floated a media company, South Parade, that was into buying and branded content. He has also produced TV serials for Gemini and has 15 years of TV exposure.

  • Former Prasar Bharati chief KS Sarma takes charge as Maa TV CEO

    Former Prasar Bharati chief KS Sarma takes charge as Maa TV CEO

    MUMBAI: Soon after restructuring its shareholding, Maa TV Network Ltd has roped in former Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma to head the company.

    Sarma will chalk out the company’s expansion plans. Maa TV Network, which owns and operates a Telugu general entertainment channel, had plans to launch a music channel and spruce up the programming of its existing channel.

    “I have joined Maa TV Network as the CEO. We are in the process of formalising our expansion plans. We would be ready with it (the plans) in a month’s time,” Sarma tells Indiantelevision.com.

    The company will have a fresh infusion of Rs 500 million with the original promoter Murali Krishna Raju putting in Rs 100 million. Superstars Nagarjuna and Chiranjeevi have walked in as new investors along with Matrix Laboratories Ltd (a listed company) and will together be holding 60 per cent in a purchase deal worth Rs 400 million.

    Sarma, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, recently retired as Prasar Bharati CEO. During his stint, Prasar Bharati launched a direct-to-home (DTH) service, DD Direct+, comprising free-to-air channels. Doordarshan also came out with a fine tuned self-financing scheme (SFS) and handled marketing of cricket, serials and movies.