News Broadcasting
Internationals rock Asias boat at Hero Skills Challenge
NEW DELHI: The seventh edition of the Hero Women’s Indian Open witnessed the ‘Rest of the World’ team beat ‘Asia’ 3-1 in the ‘Hero Skills Challenge’ at the par-72, Delhi Golf Club course here today.
The Rest of the World team comprising Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), GwladysNocera (France), Holly Clyburn(England) and Maria Balikoeva (Russia) beat The Asian contingent of Sharmila Nicollet, Neha Tripathi, Vani Kapoor (all India) and Chung Ye Na (Korea) by a margin of 3-1. Rest of the World pocketed Rs 90,000 for their efforts while Team Asia had to settle for Rs 30,000. Each skills contest was worth a prize purse of Rs 30,000.
The USD 300,000Hero Women’s Indian Open 2013 commences with thePro-Am on Wednesday 27th November, followed by the three-day main stroke-play tournament, from 28th to 30thNovember, 2013.The event is tri-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour (LET), Ladies Asian Golf Tour (LAGT) and the Womens’ Golf Association of India (WGAI).
The ‘Hero Skills Challenge’ teed-off with the ‘Longest Drive’ competition. Rest of the World beat Asia in this format after Ladies European Tour star Sophie Gustafson let loose a 283 yard drive on the tenth fairway. Asia’s best reply in this contest came in the form of a 265-yard effort by Sharmila Nicollet.
Sharmila however pulled one back for team Asia in the ‘Closest to the Pin’ contest with her ball coming to rest 3.5 feet from the pin. The best the Rest of the World could manage in this category was a 12 feet 6 inch effortfrom Holly Clyburn of England.
In the ‘Bunker Shot’ contest however, Russia’s Maria Balikoeva helped Rest of the World nudge ahead with a superb shot that saw her ball come to rest 1 foot six inches from the pin, far better than the 3 feet 8 inch effort from Korean Chung Ye Na.
The Rest of the World drove the nail into the coffin in the ‘Putting Contest’ with Sophie Gustafson once again starring with a superb putt that fell just nine inches short of its target. In reply, the closest Asia could get, with Vani Kapoor’s effort was a 3 feet, three inches putt.
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.
