News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak wins the Best News Channel at the ITA Awards, 14th Year in a row
Mumbai: Aaj Tak, the nation’s undisputed No.1 News channel won the most coveted award for the Best Hindi News Channel at the prestigious Indian Television Academy Awards 2014. This is the 14th year in a row that Aaj tak received the top honour establishing that the nation’s trust in Aaj tak is unshakable and ever stronger.
Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Aroon Purie, Chairman and Editor in Chief – India Today Group said, ‘For the last 14 years, Aaj Tak has built a reputation of being the most trustworthy source of information. This promise is backed by a relentless pursuit to find the real truth and to present it with conviction. I congratulate the team and I respect the excellence in journalism that has made the brand command the loyalty it does.’
Mr. Ashish Bagga, Group CEO – India today Group added, ‘The award stands testimony to the faith that the Nation holds in Aaj Tak. It is the consistent focus and the unwavering commitment towards our mission that has kept Aaj tak at the numero uno position, and constantly living upto its promise of being Sabse Tez’.
The other awards won by Aaj Tak’s team at the ITA Awards 2014, include Anjana Om Kashyap for the Best News & Current Affairs Anchor, Rahul Kanwal for Best Talk Show Host on Seedhi Baat, the Best Interstitial filler for the ‘So Sorry’ series, and Shams Tahir Khan for the Best News & Current Affairs Show – Jeetega Bhai Jeetega.
Aaj Tak, the nation’s most trusted and the most awarded News Channel continued with the winning streak of being the No. 1 in terms of viewership too. The latest week saw Aaj tak complete 77 uninterrupted weeks of being the no.1 in ratings. Aaj tak has been the clear choice of the viewer week on week, unchallenged in perhaps, the most news heavy period of recent times. The general elections, the change in government, to the more recent PM’s historic speech from Madison Square, New York, the nation has been following News on Aaj Tak.
Supriya Prasad, Managing Editor Aaj tak mentions, “Being No.1 for 14 years is a matter of pride but being the viewer’s choice in an election year is even more encouraging. A 60 million viewers followed their most trusted source in the Counting Week. It is very motivating to see when the efforts win the viewer’s appreciation…The maximum reporters on the ground, the most innovative use of technology, holograms and teleportation, power of maximum LIVE sources, focus on ground visuals, the use of drone cameras….. We are very happy that our viewers noticed this most definitive edge and continued to trust us the most”
News Broadcasting
GenNext takes charge as Network18 reshuffles leadership
With Avinash Kaul bowing out, Network18 hands reins to younger leaders, streamlines operations, and pushes data-driven growth across TV, digital and regional markets
MUMBAI: Network18 is redrawing its leadership map just as a long-time lieutenant bows out. Avinash Kaul, a central figure in the broadcaster’s rise since 2014, is leaving after 12 years to pursue “professional and personal goals”, triggering a broad-based reshuffle that puts a younger cohort directly under the top brass.
Kaul joined at a pivotal moment during the company’s transition and went on to scale the television business, combining strategic nous with data-led decision-making and a sharp read of the news landscape. “Avinash has been an integral part of the Network18 story,” the company said, thanking him for his leadership of the broadcast business and wishing him the best for the future.
In his wake, Network18 is betting on what it calls a “young and restless” leadership bench. “The team has taken charge and proved its mettle in quite adverse circumstances,” the note said, adding that “GenNext has seamlessly stepped in as we continue to outperform our peers.”
Operationally, the structure is being flattened. Smriti Mehra, S Shivakumar and Mitul Sangani will work directly with the top leadership, as they did in the fourth quarter. Ganesh Iyer and Abhinay Chauhan continue in their existing roles, while younger executives are being handed wider mandates across social, digital, connected TV and linear.
The reporting lines are being tightened to drive revenue and product momentum. Prabhat Chatterjee, business head–Forbes, and Arun Thapar, president–content and communication for AETN-18, will report to Smriti Mehra, alongside Mallika Nath Handa, who will lead special projects spanning new shows and non-linear properties. Jayesh Gokalgandhi, CFO for AETN-18, will report to Ramesh Damani.
Mitul Sangani will oversee expansion in Hindi and regional markets, with Sidharth Newatia, CRO–ILC, focusing on reach and revenue growth, particularly in tier-II and III markets. Pankaj Soni, head of marketing–ILC, will also report to Sangani while working functionally with Ganesh Iyer.
The group is also consolidating its branded content play. Moneycontrol’s branded content business will be folded into News18 Studio, with Don Zarrar moving to work with Shivakumar while continuing to lead existing studio and Focus teams.
International and platform growth are being bundled together. Pranav Bakshi takes on additional charge of the international business alongside connected TV and social platforms, with Naveen Mathur, who leads revenue management for the international unit, reporting to him. Bakshi continues to report to Puneet Singhvi.
On the technology and operations side, Rajesh Sharma, head of broadcast technology and IT; Rahul Singh, head of events and technical operations; and Bhupender Bhardwaj, head of IT security, will now report to Singhvi. Darshil Parekh, head of sales strategy, planning and operations, will work directly with Ramesh Damani and the top leadership, with Stanley Cyril, who manages digital sales operations, reporting to him.
Data is being pushed to the centre of decision-making. Jitamitra Mohanty, who leads research and analytics, will now work with Santosh Menon to turn audience data into “actionable insights that drive content strategy, product innovation and sustainable viewership growth”.
The message is clear: fewer layers, faster calls, sharper bets. With Kaul’s exit closing one chapter, Network18 is handing the wheel to a younger crew and doubling down on scale across screens. The race, it signals, will be run at full tilt.
