Close on the heels of Udayan Mukherjee joining as its Global Business Editor, the India Today group has announced two more senior appointments as part of its plans to bolster its coverage of business news in the post-pandemic economic order.
Sourav MajumdarSiddharth Zarabi
Sourav Majumdar is the new Editor of the Business Today Magazine, and Siddharth Zarabi will be Managing Editor of Business Today TV. Majumdar has led the Indian editions of Fortune and Forbes and earlier Entrepreneur magazine.
Zarabi, who was Editor of BTVI (earlier Bloomberg TV India) until recently, has been with CNBC TV18 in the past as well as Business Standard and The Indian Express.
Speaking on the appointments, Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson of the India Today Group, said, “Every once in a while, the business arena goes through an irreversible change. In the midst of this disruptive flutter, the real journalists and real ideas reshape the world. We are happy to be on the leading edge of this transformational journey with the most credible journalists, an enviable legacy and a truly Omni platform multimedia Business Today Experience”
361 Degree Entertainment & Media Pvt Ltd is set to launch Ads2OTT, an integrated OTT exchange in October 2020.
Said Shivi Chopra, who was formerly with BTVI and CNBC and is now Co-Founder, Ads2OTT: “The rise of OTT platforms has presented a great opportunity for advertisers. The advent of the festive season along with the upcoming IPL will boost advertising and brands will look at investing in the OTT space in a big way. The question is no longer about whether to invest in OTT but rather How and How much. OTT offers a formidable combination of the impact of television along with the power and precision of digital. Our prime focus will be to help regional and local brands to experience the efficiency and effectiveness of the category. At the same time, we will be catering to national brands who are looking at conveying their brand’s message or extending their existing broadcast reach. We are extremely bullish about the future of OTT and the exponential ROI it will generate for advertisers. Ads2OTT is envisioned to play a critical and catalytic role in forming OTT into a separate category within the media advertising landscape.”
On August 31, 11-year-old beleaguered business news channel BTVi announced a ‘pause’ on its broadcast operations. The announcement to this effect was made on August 31 with a statement from the HR department. The announcement claimed that the channel was “consistently ahead” of a channel with an over-two-decade-long existence.
Be that as it may, the channel has been up for sale for a while, with no suitors ready to pick it up. The last straw was when CEO Megha Tata announced her departure earlier this year.
“Over the next few days, we will communicate the future steps towards ensuring a smooth transition of our operations,” the statement announcing the “pause” added.
BTVi was launched in April 2008 as UTVi and was rechristened BloombergUTV in September 2009. In August 2012, with a change of controlling state, it was renamed Bloomberg TV India and and four years later, in August 2016, it became BTVi, with the end of the Bloomberg alliance.
While the channel has seen the pause, there is no refresh of the website too. The Twitter feed though is live.
Business Television India (BTVI) will now be available to audiences for free in the new tariff regime.
Said Megha Tata, COO, BTVI: “It is a very interesting time in the history of broadcasting where the consumers get a choice to select and pay only for what they want to watch. The new tariff order will bring in place a clear demarcation whether content is king or distribution. It will further put pressure on content creators in improving the quality of programming. We at BTVI have decided to offer our priceless insights and opinions free to air. This is our endeavour to prioritise our viewers and ensure we help them to ‘Save. Invest. Prosper’ sans any additional costs.â€
Adding to the same Anuj Katiyar, Head Marketing, Research and Branded Content: “BTVI always had a large audience base who were loyal and now we are putting our viewers before anything else and providing them our channel at no extra cost to them. BTVI is the only business news channel that is FTA. This will not only help us reach out to our loyal viewers without any hinderance but also new viewers who are looking at receiving business news, without putting any burden on their pockets.â€
Republic TV and business news Business Television India (BTVI) have entered into a strategic alliance for content and programming around Union Budget 2018.
Said Megha Tata, COO, Business Television India (BTVI): “We are very excited about this association. Republic TV’s credibility in news coverage and BTVI’s expertise in English business news space will create a unique proposition for the viewers of Union Budget 2018. With the two forces joining hands, I am very confident about delivering an all-round perspective to our viewers.â€
Added Vikas Khanchandani, CEO, Republic TV:“Union Budget 2018 is the most anticipated Budget, with major announcements expected one year post demonetisation and GST implementation. Republic TV along with BTVI will bring together leading financial experts across sectors, think-tanks, global investors and the country’s best editorial minds to present the most insightful and sharp perspective of the Budget.â€
Business news channel Business Television India (BTVI) has refreshed its brand identity. Along with a new logo, BTVI has unveiled a refreshed brand campaign focused on the benefit that the channel brings to the viewers through anchor expertise. The campaign focuses on the editorial assets of the channel, notes a communique.
On refreshing the brand a year after launch, Megha Tata, COO, BTVI, said: “We continue to focus on our differentiated content and we are increasing our market share substantially. Through this logo refresh and brand campaign, BTVI aims to provide most credible information to our viewers. We will continue to reach out to recognised authorities of their field, whose thoughts and opinions matter to millions who follow them.â€
Added Siddharth Zarabi, Executive Editor, BTVI: “At a time when the viewer is being overwhelmed with a deluge of information – much of which is not relevant, complex and consumes too much time of the viewer, BTVI has a simple proposition that aims to inform and empower viewers. ‘Keep it simple’ is our theme and over the past year our programming goes to the heart of every story, declutters it and magnifies what is relevant and valuable. Our senior editorial team is delivering consistent programming that spans the entire gamut from wealth creation through shows like Call BTVI, Financial Planner among others to shows that address larger themes like ‘mission-no-emission’. As we move forward to inform and empower the Indian business TV viewer, we will unveil more programming that is relevant and timelyâ€.
BTVi or as the Business Television India channel is better known as has appointed Shilpa Shetty and Seema Pisharody to jointly work towards revenue generation for the channel. They will be closely working with COO Megha Tata to drive the business news channel to strengthen the next level growth in India. BTVi is reinforcing senior experienced people in the team to build a quality think tank with a focus on the revenue model of the channel. As is known, Anuj Katiyar, joined BTVi as Marketing and Research Head two months back.
Seema PisharodyMonica Tata
While Shetty moves in from Times Network to oversee strategic planning for generating revenue for the channel, Pisharody, was last with CNN-IBN, be responsible for a strategic approach for business development for the channel.
Welcoming them to the team, Tata said: “We are really happy to have Shilpa and Seema on board. We believe that their expertise in the domain will be a valuable asset to the channel. Their knowledge and experience will help BTVi brand to scale new heights.â€
BTVi has appointed Anuj Katiyar as the Marketing & Research Head for the channel. With over 12 years of experience in the industry, Katiyar will be responsible for developing overall brand and communication strategy for the channel.
Commenting on the appointment, Monica Tata, COO, BTVi, said: “We are really happy to have Anuj on board. We believe that his expertise in the marketing and research domain will be a valuable asset to the channel. His knowledge and experience will help BTVi brand to scale new heights.â€
Sharing his thoughts on his new leadership role, Katiyar said: “I am really excited about the role as BTVi comes from an extremely strong lineage of great content. This year we will focus in building BTVi into a strong brand backed by rich and impactful content, coupled with strategic marketing initiatives.â€
Katiyar worked with Times Now as Marketing Head until recently. Prior to that, he has worked with Zee Learn, UTV and Colors.
J Walter Thompson bagged four Golds at the Olive Crown Awards 2017 leading the pack of advertising agencies at the seventh edition of the Olive Crown Awards held in Mumbai on Wednesday (March 15). The awards acknowledged the remarkable work and individuals for driving the message of sustainability or ‘green advertising’.
Ajury comprising senior professionals such as K V Sridhar, Founder &Chief Creative Officer of HyperCollective, SonalDabral, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer of DDB Mudra Group, India, Carlton Disilva, CEO & CCO of Hungama Digital Services, MalvikaMehra, ​Founder & Creative Director of Tomorrow Creative Lab and Raj Nair, CEO & Chief Creative Officer of Madison BMB, selected the winning work. The jury for the Corporate Crusader award included Shernaz Vakil, Chairman & MD of Dai-ichiKarkaria Ltd, Suresh L. Goklaney, CEO of Eureka Forbes Ltd, Sachin Kalbag, Resident Editor of The Hindu, Mumbai and K Anandasagar, MD & Chief Compliance Officer of Citibank, following a similar procedure in shortlisting the winners.
(L-R) Carlton D'Silva, Sonal Dabral, Raj Nair, Neeraj Roy, Suresh L. Goklaney, Shernaz Vakil & KV Shridhar – Jury of Olive Crown Awards 2017
The awards were presented across 20 different categories, including the coveted title ‘Green Crusader of the Year’ award, which was presented to actress Dia Mirza for her contribution towards the welfare of the society by associating with NGOs, in addition to her constant efforts towards the green initiative. The award was presented by BTVi COO Megha Monica Tata, along with the Guest of ​Honour and actor VivekOberoi. The’ Campaign of the Year’ and the ‘Brand of the Year’ awards was presented to The Hindu for its #spiritofBengaluru campaign, ideated by J Walter Thompson.
(L-R) Srinivas Swamy, Dia Mirza (winner of Green Crusader of the Year Award), Vivek Oberoi, Pradeep Guha and Monica Tata at Olive Crown Awards 2017
Commenting on the occasion, President, IAA India Chapter, Neeraj Roy said, “It is really heartening to see the message of a ‘Green Earth’ reach millions of people with the effective apparatus of mass media. We are extremely honoured to host yet another successful edition of the awards, and we look forward to replicating the same success in the coming years with more captivating entries that are contributing in making the world a better place to live in.â€
Srinivas Swami, Representative of Matrubhumi (winner of Corp Crusader of the Year Award) and Pradeep Guha at Olive Crown Awards
Commenting on the wins, Tarun Rai, CEO, JWT South Asia said: “Very proud of Senthil and team. To create compelling communication for a compelling cause and then to be recognised at such an impressive event is really gratifying. This campaign is also special because it’s a fantastic combination of technology and creativity. I am sure this campaign will win many more awards. I would also like to to congratulate The Hindu for the campaign and for promoting the initiative for Bengaluru.” – said Tarun Rai, CEO, JWT South Asia
Said Dia Mirza on her award: “It is a honour to receive the award for Green Crusader of the Year at Olive Crown Awards 2017. It is crucial and extremely difficult to make people realize this umbilical link we have towards the environment. We should emerge as inspirations and I believe that parenting can make the next generation take steps towards a green future. Thanks to Olive Crown and its jury, our work is recognised and appreciated, I hope that the green initiative is taken forward with the next generation as well.”
Click to view LIST OF WINNERS Olive Crown Awards 2017
In an effort to persuade people across Mumbai’s corporate sector to vote during the forthcoming civic elections, business channel BTVi has associated with Mumbai First for a initiative to galvanize people across corporates, institutions and individuals to participate in the #Vote4Mumbai challenge – Vote Kar, Mumbaikar.
Through this initiative, BTVi aims to induce corporate in Mumbai to go out and vote. BTVi has rolled out an extensive on-air, online and social media campaign to support the cause.
Monica Tata
On this initiative, Monica Tata, COO, BTVi, said:“We at BTVi are extremely excited to associate with Mumbai First for #Vote4Mumbai initiative. We have high hopes that this challenge in turn will influence many corporates to vote and bring in a change in the society. Through our channel we urge everyone in Mumbai to go out and vote.”
The initiative #Vote4Mumbai is an inter-corporate/institution and team as well as inter-department challenge to go out and vote, en masse.
Statistics of the last four elections shows that every time elections are held in Mumbai, less than 45 per cent of registered voters have cast their franchise. This initiative will recognise institutions who manage to lead their employees to a 100 per cent voter turnout and would be rewarded to a unique incentive of participating in a round table on key challenges facing Mumbai. Winners will be announced on BTVi as well.
Representatives of the winning institutions/ individuals would get an opportunity to present a white paper to the Government. This initiative is well supported by a digital campaign where an individual can post videos and social messages to provoke others to go out and vote too.
BTVi has appointed Muralidhar Swaminathan as the Channel Director. A senior financial news journalist, Swaminathan comes with experience of nearly 33 years in print and television broadcasting.
Welcoming Swaminathan on board, Siddharth Zarabi, Executive Editor, BTVi, said, “BTVi has gone from strength to strength and I am delighted that such a high calibre professional, a veteran of the industry, is joining the team. Murali’s vast experience and leadership acumen are a value addition to the BTVi ethos. His truly integrated and cohesive leadership skills will drive us to even greater heights in the years to come.â€
Sharing his thoughts on his new leadership role, Swaminathan, said, “I am delighted to be a part of BTVi. I am excited and looking forward to partnering with the talented, young leadership team to deliver the company’s vision and invigorate growth.â€
Said Monica Tata, Chief Operating Officer, BTVi: “This campaign represents our strong stand focusing on influencing the think tanks of the country who are trend setters and key drivers of the economy. BTVi aims to provide most credible information to its viewers. Through this campaign, the channel continues to reach out to recognized authorities of their fields, whose thoughts and opinions matter to the millions who follow themâ€.
