News Broadcasting
The Economic Times unveils telecom news portal ETTelecom.com
MUMBAI: One of India’s leading business & economy news website, The Economic Times announced the launch of ETTelecom.com, a comprehensive news portal catering exclusively to the telecom sector.
Launched by the Union Minister for Information Technology & Law, Kapil Sibal today in a press briefing at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, and this initiative is a part of The Economic Times commitment to the telecom sector. ETTelecom.com has been launched with an objective to keep industry professionals updated with a comprehensive and focused round up on the telecom sector news – locally and globally; breaking new stories and in-depth analysis across varied topics such as technology, voice, VAS, and allied sectors.
ETTelecom.com aims to redefine a new generation of focused business vertical news, information, data, tools and services to professionals in the telecom industry. The exclusive coverage by the portal, will be complimented by a daily mobile-friendly newsletter to its subscribers – updating them with the latest and trending stories across telecom sector, every morning.
To facilitate deeper industry-engagement, ETTelecom.com will provide an interactive platform for the telecom professionals via forums and live discussions with the decision makers in telecom industry.
Telecom minister Kapil Sibal congratulated The Economic Times and said that it was an important step for the sector and as well as nation.
“I believe that the telecom and IT sectors are the infrastructure of empowerment that apply to all fields of human activity, because there is no field that is left out of cyberspace. This is a big challenge for us, while you provide the platform we will have spate of information on that platform that we will have to respond to,” he said.
“There is a lot of information, and it should be analysed on a daily basis and put out on a right kind of platform so that there is informed decision making on the other end. The Economic Times has taken a step forward, and I congratulate the team on of ETTelecom.com,” added Sibal.
“ETTelecom.com would be a quality news and information resource for people involved in India’s fast-growing ICT industry. We are extremely delighted to have such a dynamic and focused news portal catering to the entire telecom sector, and wish their team the very best in their endeavours,” said Telecom Commission DoT and chairman secretary MF Farooqui.
“Our objective is to make ETTelecom.com a one-stop destination for industry leaders who want to keep themselves updated about the telecom sector in India. The portal will not only focus on voice and VAS, but also networks, broadband, DTH, IPTV, handsets and all related information. The Indian telecom industry is at a perfect stage of development now and with 3G and smart phones gradually taking the centre stage, it will have a lot of stories to tell in the coming time. As Internet access is poised for a dramatic turn, we see Times Internet diversifying into B2B news and adopting an aggressive strategy to redefine content delivery with a sector-wise approach said Times internet CEO Satyan Gajwani.
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.
