Indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Star in its endeavour to grow its advertising revenues has decided to refurbish its ad sales functioning. The network has decided to create specific ‘client service teams’ to build and promote their brands across its entire portfolio of channels.

The current practice follows multiple channel sales teams for a marketing campaign for every channel thereby one client having numerous touch points in the network. The new set-up will follow the network sales route, enabling Star's top 55 clients to deal with one single client servicing team making it simpler and effective for clients.

Interestingly, Zee's EVP network sales (and former Star hand) Joy Chakraborthy recently changed Zee's ad sales strategum with dedicated teams tasked with interfacing with major media buyers like Group M and Madison.

The Star teams will look at sponsorship, product placement, branded programming, in addition to selling ad spots across the network.

Star will also publish its rate card on the Internet from 1 July at www.star.co.in to make it more accessible to clients. Discounts will be offered to clients with volume buys and established spend patterns.

Adds Star India EVP Ad sales Kevin Vaz, "We are excited about the new initiatives which we believe will make Star one of the easiest and most effective companies to deal with in India."

Under Vaz, Juhi Ravindranath will be handling the top 55 clients for the entire network. Ravindranath was earlier handling Star Plus.

For the remaining clients, Shailesh Bijlani, who was heading Star Movies and Star World, will handle Hindi cluster while Shanti Rao who was heading Star Utsav, will head the English cluster.

K Sriram who heads Vijay TV's sales will continue to be the national head for all clients.