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Tag: tv9

  • Initiates 'WOW – We Onboard Women' policy

    TV9 Network unveils policy for inclusivity & diversity

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Network has announces the ‘WOW’ (We Onboard Women) policy designed to recognise the “strength and potential that women bring to our organization and the world”.

     

    Said Barun Das, MD and CEO of TV9 Network “I think as a country, if we are not harnessing the potential of 50 percent of our workforce, which is the female workforce, we are handicapping ourselves. This is where ‘WOW – We Onboard Women’ comes into play. It is a brilliant initiative by our HR team. We have always felt the need for greater participation of women in our organization. With this initiative, it’s our first step towards a long but extremely essential journey.”

     

    Added Devleena S Majumder, President & Head of Human Resources at TV9 Network: “The ‘WOW’ policy is the first step; we aspire to embrace diversity comprehensively, encompassing factors such as age, race, culture, abilities, and experiences. By nurturing and supporting diverse perspectives, we aim to unlock the full potential of our organization.”

     

  • A 5-day cultural extravaganza

    TV9 Network presents Lifestyle Expo

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Network is announced the unveiling of the ‘TV9 Festival of India’, a five-day lifestyle expo to be held in Delhi.

     

    Said a spokesperson: “The ‘TV9 Festival of India’ is a jubilation of India’s multifaceted culture, where the nation’s finest art, music, food, fashion, will be showcased. This year, the festival unites people from diverse backgrounds to commemorate and admire India’s illustrious heritage and global connections.”

     

  • Rahul Chaudhary will assist in day-to-day news operations at TV9 Bharatvarsh

    TV9 Bharatvarsh to be helmed by Deep Upadhyay

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Network has announced the appointment of Deep Upadhyay, Editor, Convergence & Strategy as head of TV9 Bharatvarsh. Sant Prasad Rai, the erstwhile Managing Editor of TV9 Bharatvarsh has been relieved from his day to day newsroom responsibilities with immediate effect.

     

    Upadhyay will be supported by Rahul Chaudhary in managing the day-to-day newsroom operations for the time being, a communique added.

     

  • Takes over as Interim editor of TV9 Hindi and English websites

    TV9 appoints Deep Upadhyay, Interim Editor, Convergence & Strategy

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Group has appointed  Deep Upadhyay as Interim Editor, Convergence and Strategy. As part of this, Upadhyay takes over as the Interim Editor of TV9 Hindi and English websites respectively. He will also coordinate with other group regional digital assets.

     

    The Group is effecting certain strategic changes at the leadership level to ensure TV9 Digital emerges as a champion, notes a communique.

     

  • Unnithan, currently Managing Editor, India Today, is scheduled to join on March 1. News9 Plus is slated for a beta launch this month and a full-scale take off late March.

    Sandeep Unnithan to head TV9’s News9 Plus

    By Our Staff

     

    Sandeep Unnithan
    Sandeep Unnithan. Picture source: India Today

    There is much action in English news journalism all over again. According to sources, Sandeep Unnithan, currently, Managing Editor, India Today, is all set to join the soon-to-be-launched News9 Plus, the subscription-driven English video newsmag from the TV9 stable. Unnithan is scheduled to join on March 1. News9 Plus is slated for a beta launch this month and a full-scale take off late March.

    Unnithan, a specialist in defence and strategic affairs, is author of Black Tornado: The 3 sieges of Mumbai 26/11 and co-author of #OperationX: The Untold Story of India’s Covert Naval War in East Pakistan.

    According to our sources, other than Unnithan, Sandhya Ravishankar will also be part of the team as Chief of Bureau (South) as also Aditya Raj Kaul, who is also known for his coverage of security, diplomacy and conflict.

    Unnithan will report to BV Rao, Group Editor, TV9 Network. The attempt of the new offering, is to reach out to the ‘GenFlix’ English news viewer, a coinage for the Netflix-like streaming service watchers who are interested in serious news content.

    It obviously helps that Unnithan has worked with Rao not many moons ago at the Indian Express in Mumbai.

  • Felicitate truck drivers who risked their lives during Covid

    TV9 & Shriram Transport Finance Company celebrate ‘Highway Heroes’

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Network, in partnership with Shriram Transport Finance Company (STFC) Ltd. and Apollo Hospitals. announced ‘Highway Heroes’ felicitating truck drivers who stood rock solid through Covid-19.

     

    Commenting on the success this social campaign received, Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network, said: “The pandemic has been a great learning for all of us. We are conscious of our responsibility as the #1 News Network. We realised that with great power comes great responsibility and we decided that we will remain true to our core which is to be of service to the public. We, therefore, decided to raise pertinent questions, and also address issues that needed to be discussed, hence was born ‘Highway Heroes’.”

     

    Added Umesh Revankar, Vice Chairman, Shriram Transport Finance Company: “As India emerges from the shadows of the pandemic, it is time to acknowledge the foot soldiers who kept the country on the move in face of sheer adversity. That’s why we thought that vaccinating truck drivers was the best possible way to salute their spirit and create awareness among this important segment of the transportation community against any vaccine hesitancy.”

     

    Said S Balamurugan, Lead CSR, STFC: “We, at STFC, believe that support and care can transform their lives. Our endeavour is to provide continuous support to our partners, while, also focusing on their well-being. Since one’s health plays an important role in one’s wellbeing, we have been conducting medical check-ups for drivers and their families. The vaccination drive is a natural extension of our current focus on the well-being of truck drivers.”

     

  • Appoints Azim Lalani as President Revenue

    TV9 Digital reinforces leadership team

    By Our Staff

     

    As part of its expansion plans, TV9 Digital has brought on board Azim Lalani as President-Revenue. Lalani will be responsible for building and driving direct revenue streams.

     

    Welcoming Lalani to the TV9 family, Raktim Das, Chief Growth Officer (Digital & Broadcasting), TV9 Network said: “After stamping our supremacy in News Broadcasting, we are now a force to reckon with in India’s growing digital media landscape. We are now the country’s fastest-growing digital News Platform, crossing 100 mn unique users in record time. Most of our platforms are already No.1 News websites in their respective markets, just like the Television Channels.  We are aggressively pursuing ambitious growth objectives and Azim’s appointment is a step in this direction. He has straddled both branded content and display revenue functions, and will bring in his unique experience to the table.”

     

    Speaking on his new assignment, Lalani added: “I am excited to be part of the TV9 family as it embraces new benchmarks. I see huge opportunity for growth as TV9 Digital surges ahead with its aggressive plans. I look forward to contributing to TV9 Digital’s growth story”

     

  • Will sponsor Action Replay bug across all IPL matches and multiple feeds of Star Sports

    TV9 Network bags sponsorship of KKR, bets big on cricket

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Network has extended its partnership with Indian Premier League 2021 (IPL 2021) team Kolkata Knight Riders for the second consecutive year. The TV9 brand will be on the Kolkata team’s jersey starting April 9 and until May 30, when the final match will be played. Last year, TV9 Network had also sponsored Trinbago Knight Riders, KKR’s sister franchise in the Caribbean Premier League.

     

    In addition to KKR sponsorship, TV9 Network has signed a deal with Star Sports for sponsorship of the Action Replay Bug across all the IPL matches and multiple feeds of Star Sports. The Action Replay Bug will showcase logos of the network’s key channels, including TV9 Bharatvarsh, TV9 Telugu, TV9 Kannada, and TV9 Bangla. TV9 Bharatvarsh, the network’s Hindi news channel which made television history by catapulting itself to the top 3 position in record time, will also be taking spots on Star Sports during the two months of IPL.

     

    Barun Das
    Barun Das

    Speaking on the network’s aggressive growth plans, CEO Barun Das, said: “We became the biggest TV news network less than a year ago, and now it’s the turn of our digital business. To have grown at this dizzying pace feels great but, honestly, we have just begun. You can expect a series of globally benchmark-setting moves from the network in the months ahead.”

     

    Welcoming TV9’s return as a sponsor, Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR said: “TV9 is a perfect partner for KKR because it is a rapidly growing brand across television and digital, with a phenomenally strong regional footprint to boot. So, we are glad to have them on our jersey in IPL 2021 as well. The recent launch of the Bangla news channel, TV9 Bangla from the network is sure to add tremendous value to both our brands by building a connect with the spirit of Kolkata. We look forward to continuing this association for years to come”.

     

    TV9 Network is also the only news brand to leverage IPL 2021 on Star Sports with strategically deployed commercials, notes a company communique. Said Arshad Shawl, Director, Alliance Advertising & Marketing, the agency that facilitated the deal: “IPL provides the perfect platform for high visibility in the right frame of entertainment and sports. TV9 is already a formidable player in the TV News genre, coupled with fastest growing digital news platform in India in the recent months. The positive associations & reach from IPL will help TV9 increase the channel footprint nationally and respective regional feeds as a part of their envisaged growth trajectory.”

     

     

  • Senior journalist Deep Upadhyay is joining the leadership team of TV9 Network as it makes an aggressive foray into the content convergence space

    TV9 ropes in Deep Upadhyay for convergence play

    By Our Staff

     

    Deep Upadhyay
    Deep Upadhyay

    Deep Upadhyay has joined TV9  Network from News24 where he spent more than seven years as Managing Editor.

    Said Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network: “Deep will be a key member of our aggressive convergence strategy. Content is never platform agnostic. Future form of news and content pertaining to current affairs is still evolving worldwide. At TV9 Network, we wish to be ahead of that evolution curve and that is where Deep, with his unique ability to understand news and how it needs to be served to evolving audiences, will fit the bill best.”

    As part of his immediate assignment, Upadhyay will be stationed in Kolkata where he will work with TV9 Bangla’s Deputy Managing Editor, Amritanshu Bhattacharya, to take the Network’s newest channel to leadership position.

     

     

  • This is the sixth language news channel from the network

    TV9 Bangla launch revs up WB news market

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Network launched TV9 Bangla, a 24×7 news channel beaming out of Kolkata, as promised a few months back. This is the sixth in the language news channels from the network.

    Commenting on the channel launch  TV9 Network CEO Barun Das said: “Inspired by its glorious past and distinct regional pride, West Bengal is finally getting ready to resurrect and revive. And TV9 Bangla is here to chronicle this new development narrative with neutrality and world class presentation. TV9 Network enjoys undisputed regional dominance in language differentiated markets and with Bangla we will extend our lead. We will be a game changer in this robust market.”

    Explaining the rationale behind the channel going with the “Prothom Thekei Prothomey’ pitch (meaning “a leader from birth”), Das said: “The word prothom signifies three broad elements – first it’s an allusion to our beloved state West Bengal. It’s an aspiration to see Bengal at the top of the charts again. Second, TV9 Network will further reinforce its position as the No. 1 news network with TV9 Bangla adding to its already substantial lead over competing networks. And third, we are vying for a lateral entry at No. 1 position in the West Bengal market.”

    On the timing of the launch, Das said: “The state is already into election mode. Given that Bengal’s propensity for free flow of information, news viewership is bound to peak. We believe this is a perfect opportunity for TV9 Bangla to establish its credentials and win the maximum share of voice.”

    Added TV9 Bangla Chief Revenue Officer Amit Tripathi: “We are proud to add another feather to our cap with TV9 Bangla. Thanks to our customer first approach and remarkable deliveries, we enjoy unstinted confidence of our advertisers which was further strengthened by the unprecedented success of TV9 Bharatvarsh. With the launch of TV9 Bangla, we look forward to providing our partners the best media solutions cutting across geographies and priority markets. We are delighted that our esteemed advertisers from all over the country have already given a thumbs up to our Bangla by committing their support for the channel from day one.”

    Said Gautam Sarkar, Business Head, TV9 Bangla: “We are super excited to launch TV9 Bangla from India’s No. 1 news network in Bengal. We have a very experienced, efficient and energetic team that is capable to bring forth this new chapter in the regional news broadcasting industry. Being unparalleled, indomitable and fearless, we promise to leave a lasting impression and be a trendsetter in the electronic and digital platforms. I am very confident that we will hit every TV screens of Bengal to be the No. 1 soon.”

    From the editorial perspective, Amritanshu Bhattacharya, Deputy Managing Editor and Editor-Digital, TV9 Bangla, said: “As we have embarked on this new journey, we shall create a milestone in the regional electronic media fraternity. We are proud to enter into ‘the land of Bengal tigers’ and roar loudest with the latest updates from every nook and corners of Bengal. Our team intends to bring the latest minute-to-minute news updates with correct facts and figures that shall thrive and make a top of the mind recall for the viewers both in the TV as well as digital.”

  • He will be responsible for the entire gamut of marketing including brand planning, marketing campaigns, strategic partnerships and corporate communications

    India TV appoints Nikhil Mathur as Head of Marketing

    By Our Staff

     

    Leading news channel India TV has announced the appointment of Nikhil Mathur as Head of Marketing. He will be responsible for the entire gamut of marketing including brand planning, marketing campaigns, strategic partnerships and corporate communications.

     

    Mathur brings with him 17 years of experience. His last assignment was with TV9 Network as AVP Marketing and Events. Prior to TV9, he has worked with Zee Media Corp, PTC Punjabi Network and Focus News Network.

     

    Said India TV Managing Director Ritu Dhawan: “I am glad to have Nikhil on board and I am sure he will add more power to the existing powerful team and set new benchmarks in the Hindi News genre”.

     

    Added Mathur: “I am looking forward to being part of the India TV family as it sets new benchmarks each year”.

     

    Added Ritika Talwar, Head – HR, India TV: “We welcome Nikhil into the India TV family. Look forward to a long and fruitful partnership helping the company grow from strength to strength. Nikhil is a perfect match with our team, working towards enhancing India TV’s standing as one of the most trusted brands in the media industry.”

     

     

  • That West Bengal is going to polls next year is obviously more than just a coincidence

    TV9 Network forays into Bangla

    By A Correspondent

     

    TV9 Network has embarked on am expansion plan for both its linear television as well as digital news businesses. The expansion plan will kick off with the launch of TV9 Bangla, a 24X7 news channel in the dynamic Bengal news market early next year. That West Bengal is going to polls next year is obviously more than just a coincidence

     

    Before the launch of TV9 Bangla, the network will unveil its digital offering, tv9bangla.com in December.

     

    Commenting on the Network’s foray into West Bengal, Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network, said: “Gopal Krishna Gokhale had famously said  ‘What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow’. But nearly a century later it would seem like that statement applies more to Bengal’s past than the present. An intellectually progressive state and exporter of the best talent to India and the world, we believe the state and its people still retain the wisdom and wares to make that its future as well.  Bengalis are the typical Argumentative Indian, they want to keep her ear to the ground and hence are naturally drawn to news. More importantly, Bengalis are proud of their language and largely consume news in their language. The discerning Bengali viewer will always have room for a neutral perspective and a balanced opinion. That’s the place in the Bengali heart and mind that TV9 Bangla aspires to occupy. We are here to strike the right balance with neutrality and a fair perspective forming the core of our operations. Our unbiased coverage and world class presentation will give teeth to the Fourth Estate in West Bengal.”

     

    On the timing of the launch, Das said: “The state is already into election mode. Indirect canvassing has already started and the heat is building up. Given Bengal’s propensity for free flow of information, news viewership is bound to peak. We believe this is a perfect opportunity for TV9 Bangla to establish its credentials and win the maximum share of viewership and voice.”

     

    The network has onboarded veteran journalist Anjan Bandyopadhyay as the editor of TV9 Bangla news channel. He was the editor of Zee 24 Ghanta and his last assignment was with ABP as its Editor-Digital. Hiring for both platforms is in full swing.  Amritanshu Bhattacharya has also joined as the Editor, TV9 Bengali Digital and will also serve as Managing Editor, Output, for the television channel. His last assignment was as an Associate Editor and Head of Digital of Zee 24 Ghanta.

     

    It may be remembered that not too long ago, Das had made a success of Zee 24 Ghanta. Watch this space as he takes on his former channel.