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Tag: UTV

  • Bharath C.S. takes the helm as content director at Kuku TV

    Bharath C.S. takes the helm as content director at Kuku TV

    BENGALURU: Bharath C.S.., a seasoned creative director with over two decades of experience in content creation and digital production, has been appointed as the new content director for micro drama at Kuku TV. The move, effective June 2025, sees Bharath bringing his extensive background from industry giants like Amazon and various top television networks to the burgeoning micro-drama segment.

    With a career spanning leadership roles at Amazon, Culture Machine, Udaya TV, Zee TV, ETV, and UTV, Bharath has consistently delivered high-impact content across television, digital, and over-the-top (OTT) platforms.

    During his tenure at Amazon, he was instrumental in spearheading the MPAM automation tool, which significantly enhanced content delivery speed and precision. His impressive portfolio includes producing over 500 television shows (both fiction and non-fiction), more than 1,000 television commercials, and over 100,000 digital assets.

    At Culture Machine, he successfully established regional digital channels, tapping into the unique cultural landscape of south India and boosting engagement for Tamil and Telugu audiences.

    Bharath’s appointment is expected to bolster Kuku TV’s strategic and creative output in the rapidly evolving digital content space, particularly in the creation of concise, impactful narratives

  • One Health Assist appoints Divya Dixit as chief growth officer

    One Health Assist appoints Divya Dixit as chief growth officer

    Mumbai: One Health Assist has announced the appointment of business strategy veteran, Divya Dixit, as chief growth officer. In this role, Divya will be responsible for spearheading the organisation’s innovative growth initiatives, driving revenue generation through strategic partnerships and multi-channel marketing efforts, both in domestic and international markets.

    With over 25+ years of diverse experience in growth marketing, digital transformation, and business expansion, Divya has previously worked with leading organizations such as Alt Balaji, ZEE5, Saregama, Tata Docomo, Star TV, UTV, Sony Entertainment, and Barista Coffee. Her ability to scale businesses and transform brands has consistently delivered impressive results across sectors, establishing her as a leader in growth-driven roles. At Alt Balaji, under her four year leadership tenure, it witnessed a stupendous business growth, growing from a seven crore topline to a 110 Crore.

    As the CGO, Divya’s mandate focuses on driving business to consumer revenue for the brand and strategic business collaborations as well as focus on wellness and ecommerce divisions. Her role will encompass creating and executing growth-driven strategies that expand the company’s footprint in India as well as International Markets, ensuring the brand’s continued upward trajectory.

    One Health Assist founder Davinder Bhasin expressed his enthusiasm about her appointment, saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Divya onboard as our Chief Growth Officer. Her exceptional portfolio in scaling companies through growth as well as strategic initiatives speaks for itself and she will play a crucial role in our vision to be the market leader as we enter this dynamic phase in the healthcare sector.”

    One Health Assist co-founder Karan Arora added, “Divya’s proven track record of driving growth across diverse industries speaks volumes. As a forward-thinking healthcare ecosystem, One Health Assist will rapidly establish its market presence and Divya’s fresh perspective will be key to revolutionizing healthcare ecosystem”

    Speaking on her new role, Dixit said, “I’m excited to join One Health Assist at such an inflection point for the healthcare sector. Leveraging my experience across industries and startups, I look forward to driving top line initiatives that will further One Health Assist’s mission to revolutionize healthcare through digital transformation as well as driving incredible consumer experience. The brand is uniquely positioned to be an industry leader, and I’m eager to be a part of this growth curve.”

  • Kaushal Nanavati and Sumeet Saigal announce the launch of Content Bridge

    Kaushal Nanavati and Sumeet Saigal announce the launch of Content Bridge

    Mumbai: Kaushal Nanavati, with over 24 years of experience in the Indian media landscape, has joined hands with industry veteran Sumeet Saigal launching their new venture, Content Bridge.

    Kaushal Nanavati boasts of a career spanning over two decades across respected media brands like Disney, UTV, Zee and Shemaroo.

    Sumeet Saigal is a renowned figure in the Indian media as a successful aggregator of content among other business interests.

    Both founders bring on board decades of experience in content aggregation, sales, launching TV channels & on-demand services across the globe.

    As the name suggests, Content Bridge will endeavour to bridge the gap – across content, technology and media-related services.

  • Chalkboard Entertainments announces a strategic partnership with media veteran Sandeep Bhargava

    Chalkboard Entertainments announces a strategic partnership with media veteran Sandeep Bhargava

    Mumbai: Chalkboard Entertainment, a content company dedicated to producing compelling narratives, has announced a strategic partnership with media veteran Sandeep Bhargava to strengthen their business and content strategy. As a part of his role as a partner, Bhargava will be responsible for taking the organisation to its next phase of growth.

    An industry veteran, with an exemplary career spanning over 33 years, Bhargava has an extensive track record of transforming companies into highly successful businesses. From collaborating with internationally acclaimed directors and producers to playing a pivotal role in establishing India’s largest film studios – UTV, Sahara One, Viacom18 (Studio18), and The Indian Film Company (One of the first media companies to be listed on the AIM Exchange in London), Sandeep has been a valuable partner to some of the industry’s biggest names for over three decades.

    On this collaboration, Bhargava said, “I am thrilled to be working with Chalkboard Entertainment at such a dynamic time in the Indian content landscape. Chalkboard has perfectly captured the pulse of evolving narratives and is creating stories in line with that. Our shared vision is to develop an innovative and successful ecosystem that amplifies the impact and extends the reach of their exceptional content. I look forward to building and innovating with the talented team at Chalkboard Entertainment.”

    Speaking about the new addition to the team, Chalkboard Entertainment said co-founder Vikesh Bhutani said, “We are thrilled to welcome Sandeep to the leadership team at Chalkboard as we now gear up for our next phase of growth collectively. The rapidly evolving content industry demands a forward-thinking approach centered on innovation and creation and we are confident that his commitment and experience will add immense value to our future endeavors”

  • Enter10 Network’s ex-chief business officer Shrutish Maharaj joins Worldwide Media as its president of revenue & strategy

    Enter10 Network’s ex-chief business officer Shrutish Maharaj joins Worldwide Media as its president of revenue & strategy

    Mumbai: Worldwide Media, India’s leading lifestyle and entertainment group has appointed the exemplary revenue leader, Shrutish Maharaj as its president of revenue & strategy, according to his Linkedin profile update. Having over 18 years of experience in this domain, he has diversified his portfolio into different mediums such as radio, print, TV, below-the-line advertising, branded content and digital sales. In his new stint, he will oversee the sales & business generation of the company, which is a Times Group entity.

    Maharaj was associated with Enter10 Network as the Chief Business Officer where he was instrumental in setting up and scaling up the group’s revenue & operations function. He was also responsible for overseeing media planning & buying activities of the organisation. During his tenure at Enter10 Network, he adopted a transformational approach toward business. The group’s channels like Dangal, Bhojpuri Cinema and Enterr10 Movies focused on creating the right positioning and perception under his leadership. At Enter10 TV Network, he restructured its leadership and looked after the revenue mandate of its flagship GEC Dangal TV.

    His strong acumen helped him to reach new heights and fostered in the business growth of companies he was engaged with. A go-getter, who constantly believes in innovation and drives sales & revenue growth with his experience and knowledge. Shrutish is a fearless young leader who shares the passion & vision for the media and entertainment space.

    Prior to this, he has also held multiple leadership positions with groups like UTV, Times TV Network and Helios Media. He also had a stint with HT media, CNBC TV 18, and Radio Today for over a year.

  • 9X Media elevates Kanan Dave to SpotlampE business head

    9X Media elevates Kanan Dave to SpotlampE business head

    New Delhi: Music network 9X Media, which also owns SpotlampE and other digital products, has elevated marketing lead Kanan Dave to a business head role.

    As business head for SpotlampE, Dave will drive the next phase of growth, strategy and the creative development for SpotlampE. 

    An experienced industry professional with a career spanning over 15 years in the media and entertainment sector, Dave has been heading marketing at 9X Media for the past two years. In her earlier roles at UTV and Disney, she managed the music and film marketing business and worked on more than 50 movies across languages.

    “I am extremely happy to be a part of the company’s vision. SpotlampE has been a disruptor in the Indian music industry, giving independent and original music a great platform,” said Dave. “The Independent music industry is at the beginning of a new era, driving deeper engagements in multiple genres and languages across the country and offering compelling content to artists, partners and fans. I look forward to working with the artists and creators alongside brands and media platforms to grow the music landscape further.”

  • Kewal Kapoor joins Fun2 app as consultant global advisor & creative strategist

    Kewal Kapoor joins Fun2 app as consultant global advisor & creative strategist

    New Delhi: Sports and entertainment video sharing platform Fun2 app has onboarded Kewal Kapoor as consultant global advisor & creative strategist. He brings with him industry insights, vast experience in creative strategy and brand development, and innovative experience to the business gained in the largest and most successful brands worldwide.

    Prior to this, Kapoor has been seen wearing several hats over his 20+ years of experience in the industry. He has been associated with print, TV, digital, mobile and has served in various capacities. Some of the institutions that he worked with included UTV, BBC, and top-notch advertising agencies.

    Kapoor is also the founder & director of Chai Kreative & Oliver Green Sports, where he is currently working on something really exciting related to the world of sports. His expertise lies in conceptualising rich, brand-centric stories that enriches the brand’s overall look, feel and fragrance.

    “In all my career, I’ve always believed that it is the holistic synergy of the product and strategic marketing that can take a brand and make it into something. I’m extremely excited to be part of the solution which will alleviate Fun2 App’s market presence,” said Kapoor. “Fun2 App before I came on board was only an entertainment platform, but I introduced first strategic shift and made it ‘sports and entertainment platform’ and it’ll be my personal mission to give creative and strategic input to make it the go-to platform for those who believe in “joy of creating, and joy of playing together.”

    Fun2App founder Manoj Bhanu added, “We are happy that despite being deeply involved in his own company and various projects, Kewal agreed to give the strategic support. We aim to explore various waters and make Fun2 the go-to destination for creating and posting exciting videos. Also, it’s striking how closely the values Kapoor promotes will now be part of the mission, vision and purpose of Fun2. We have full confidence in Kapoor unparalleled creative exposure, and that he’ll bring invaluable insight and direction on how we can slowly and surely create a true UGC platform.”

  • Samir Bangara: A visionary man, a talent spotter

    Samir Bangara: A visionary man, a talent spotter

    MUMBAI: Unexpected losses feel hard on the heart. Samir Bangara, who died in a road accident, will be remembered for his visionary approach to digital reformation and how he spotted and nurtured talents. The co-founder and chief executive of Qyuki Digital Media was also a riding enthusiast.

    He initiated his journey with Qyuki in 2013 which was initially launched by director Shekhar Kapur and Grammy and Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman in 2012. The platform was relaunched in 2014. While he earned quite a fame for his efforts to build Qyuki, he was in the midst of starting his own venture when he met Kapoor. 

    “It is with great sorrow that we inform you that our leader, mentor and trusted friend, Samir Bangara passed away in an accident this morning. We are all in a state of complete and utter despair and words will do no justice to express this loss. But it is our duty to absorb this shock for now so that we can be there for each other especially for his family, just the way Samir would have liked us to,” Qyuki COO Sagar Gokhale shared a statement. 

    Bangara was also the chief operating officer of Indigames and later led its sale to Disney. UTV bought 30.02 per cent in Indiagames and then increased its stake to 86.02 per cent from 56 per cent. Later, UTV was acquired by Disney India. Post the sale, he focused on integrating the interactive businesses of Indiagames, Disney and UTV into one team covering games, video and audio services while he was serving as managing director – digital at Disney UTV.

    “Samir Bangara was special. Someone who was a friend, not just a partner at work. I was always struck by his rare ability to traverse topics and contexts, from a room full of MBA types talking strategy to having a sense of the street. His smile and eloquence will never leave my mind. His passing is an irreparable loss to the Indian digital industry and creators. He was a visionary and their true friend. Whenever I spoke to him, I had a feeling that we can do great things together for creators. He left the world better than he found it. He helped people, shaped careers, spread wisdom and made friends. He made the years count. His legacy will live on through every single person he impacted positively in his life. May god bless his soul and give his family and everyone at Qyuki Digital Media the strength to bear this,” Facebook India entertainment partnerships head Saurav Saket Jha commented on LinkedIn.

    “Shocked and numb to hear about my friend Samir Bangara. I can’t believe he is no more. Gone too soon. My condolences to his family. Hope they find the strength to overcome this huge loss. You will be missed Samir, but you will always remain in our hearts,” House of Cheer founder and managing director Raj Nayak said on Twitter.

    “I lost my super power today. Samir Bangara, you have been a mentor/friend/business guide and the biggest cheerleader. You believed in me like no one else in this world,” producer Gunit Monga said.

    While he led Quiky to emerge at the forefront of new media, Bangara started his career in another vertical, in venture capital with IL&FS Venture corporation and moved on to being an investment banker with Ernst & Young. He was an alumnus of Mumbai University. In January, Qyuki hosted Epic Fam Jam, a festival dedicated wholly to India’s rising social media superstars. Reportedly, it also secured $3.5 million from Info Edge Venture Fund (IEVF) earlier this year.

    “I met Sam about 10 years ago and he stood out for his extremely sharp mind and politeness and had a smile always. I fondly remember the chat in his office about his passion for bikes and he had a glint in his eyes discussing it. It's a big loss for me personally and the industry at large! RIP Sam!" MX Player CMO Abhishek Joshi said.

    "We lost a true entrepreneur and one of the finest digital minds in the region. We’ve been buds for three decades when we entered uni together in 1990 and I’ve seen Sam grow into a thoroughbred professional into one of the finest businessmen right in front of me. Our careers were always in different areas but they would always converge at some key points in our lives. He used me for advice and I him, whenever we needed some unbiased advice," shared Universal Music Group India and South Asia MD and CEO Devraj Sanyal.

    He added that eight years ago, the paths between Qyuki Digital Media and Universal Music India crossed and they ended up doing a bunch of stuff together.

    "Together we founded the The Dharavi Dream Project our corporate social responsibility project which is also one of India’s largest #MusicForSocialGood projects. We did a ton of other stuff in the digital world and for us not to have him around is just something anyone in our industry can even begin to comprehend," added Sanyal.

    "It’s gonna take some very real work for his partner and COO Sagar Gokhale to now lead the businesses in his stead with his teams, though he knows he has the full industry behind him willing him to succeed. 
    Godspeed Sam," said Sanyal's heartfelt LinkedIn post.

    He was widely liked and admired by everyone in the industry for his visionary, cheerful and generous nature. Not only executives and celebrities but even people he mentored shared their grief over his sudden absence. 

  • Nikhil Gandhi quits Times Network as COO & president: reports

    Nikhil Gandhi quits Times Network as COO & president: reports

    MUMBAI: Times Network COO and president Nikhil Gandhi has resigned from his role, as per reports. Gandhi joined Times Network in February 2017 as revenue head and in July 2019 he was promoted as COO and president.

    This was his second stint with the network. He was part of the core team of Zoom during the launch of the channel.

    Prior to Times Network, Gandhi was associated with The Walt Disney Company and his last held position at Disney was vice president. He was also the business head at UTV. Gandhi began his career with Viacom18 in 2004 and moved to Bennett and Coleman and Co Ltd in January 2005.

    Gandhi has around 17 years of experience in media with revenue and business specialisation.

  • Zenith India creates new COO & CCO roles

    Zenith India creates new COO & CCO roles

    MUMBAI: Jai Lala has joined for the newly created position of chief operating officer (COO) at Zenith and will oversee operations, structure and expansion in addition to the scaling up of specialised, future-facing offerings for the agency. The focus will be on areas where Zenith is already market-leading such as data, dynamic content, tech, analytics, performance and programmatic.

    In addition, Zenith has elevated its managing partner and head, West & South Ajit Gurnani to the newly created role of chief client officer. He has already had a great role in firming up client relationships for Zenith and will continue to interface with key clients, bringing in new and critical perspective on businesses and enhancing Zenith’s overall strategic product and delivery.

    Jai Lala has over two decades of experience across media planning, buying, research & sales. He is has worked in organizations such as UTV, ESPN Star Sports and leading media agency groups. His last stint was with MediaCom as chief strategy & growth officer. He has serviced clients across the country such as Unilever, PepsiCo, GSK, ICICI, Castrol, Lenovo, USL, Coke, Marico and many more in various capacities. He has created multiple & unique trading practices in the industry.  Jai is also a visiting faculty at ISB & MICA.

    Elaborating on the appointments, Zenith India group CEO Tanmay Mohanty said, “ Zenith stands at an important growth juncture; we have witnessed an absolutely spectacular year so far in terms of new business wins and performance on key client businesses. In our endeavour to build further on our ROI+ offering, delivering transformational growth to our clients, we are announcing two big appointments at senior levels. Jai Lala needs no introduction and has over 20 years’ experience in media planning and buying. He will aid me in client deliveries,  keeping up the scale and momentum of operations,  integration of existing talent and new hires and the expansion in the overall footprint for Zenith. Ajit, on the other hand, has been with us for over three years and brings in huge expertise and value to every client conversation. He has transformed the way we deliver to clients and will shape our client relationships further. Both these appointments will help Zenith put out passionate, exciting and compelling work.”

    Jai Lala said, “I am delighted at this opportunity. Zenith has market-leading expertise in data, technology and innovation. Offering a strong, long-term consultative approach to clients, Zenith is already working on what lies at the corner tomorrow; whether it is automation, machine learning or artificial intelligence. Its pedigreed A-list clients, outstanding work and motivated teams make me excited about the possibilities.”

    Ajit Gurnani says, “ Zenith with its ROI push and accent on business deliverables, truly leverages the power of integrated communications and media-neutral solutions.  As part of my role, I will look to cement and enhance Zenith’s existing client relationships in addition to forming new connections.  I look forward to driving results, and creating award-winning, business -building work.”

    Ajit Gurnani has 20 plus years of work experience across client leadership, brand management and media investment management.  He has worked as a brand and media custodian at Marico and IIFCO, and has driven media investment management for The Aditya Birla Group and its companies, Mercedes-Benz, NIVEA, Zee TV, Unilever and Colgate Palmolive in previous stints with agencies. At Zenith, he has led the media investment mandate for businesses such as Parle, Toyota, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Tourism Board, HDFC Life among others.