News Broadcasting
Tune-in to the pulsating world of Boogie Woogie with Sony LIV
MUMBAI: India’s original and most iconic dance reality show, Boogie Woogie, (http://www.boogiewoogie.in)returns on your television sets after a 4-year long wait. With Sony LIV, you no longer have to worry about missing out on the show’s current or archived episode anymore. Sony LIV, Multi Screen Media (MSM)’s premium video-on-demand service, allows you to catch up on all the episodes and videos from your favourite show as per your convenience.
Boogie Woogie episodes will be carried on a dedicated microsite (http://www.boogiewoogie.in) hosted on the Sony LIV platform. The site will also allow viewers to check out all archived episodes of the show. SonyLIV.com promises to be the single-point entry into the electrifying world of Boogie Woogie for all those netizens who are often too busy to adhere to the timings on TV.
Speaking on the availability of Boogie Woogie episodes on Sony LIV, Nitesh Kripalani, Executive Vice-President – New Media, Business Development and Digital/Syndication at Sony Entertainment Network, said, “Boogie Woogie has been the longest-running and one-of-the most successful dance shows on Indian television. Sony LIV gives viewers the opportunity to tune in to the new season without losing the thread of the show’s running episodes. Diehard viewers can catch up with missed episodes using Sony LIV’s online platform. As an added bonus, true blue fans of one of the most entertaining and beloved shows on television can even relive the fun moments of earlier seasons from its 15 year stint through our archives online.”
In addition, new features have been introduced to enhance viewer engagement with the show:
· Boogie of the day: Sony LIV users can vote for their favourite dance videos depending on which contestant they like best.
· I am a street dancer: Users can upload videos of their kids dancing ‘Boogie Woogie style’ and thus share it with fellow dance lovers on the site.
Sony LIV continues to uniquely engage viewers in an interactive manner while they enjoy the best of entertainment from the Sony stable.
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.
