News Broadcasting
KidZania Mumbai readies children for a Better World, opens on September 10, 2013
MUMBAI: KidZania, a unique and innovative family amusement park, rings in the festive season with the opening of its first centre in India at R City Mall, Ghatkopar West, Mumbai on September 10, 2013. A global award winning concept KidZania Mumbai joins Dubai, Santa Fe, Cuicuilco, Monterrey, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Tokyo, Koshien, Seoul, Kuwait, and Santiago, as the 14th KidZania city in the world. KidZania is all set to present inspirational real-life expseriences to children through role-play where they learn while having fun.
KidZania will be open to visitors from 10 AM to 3 PM between Tuesday and Thursday and from 10 AM to 3 PM and 4 PM to 9 PM from Friday to Sunday and on Public Holidays. Tickets can be availed at the KidZania ticket counter at R City Mall or online at www.kidZania.in.
At KidZania, toddlers 2 to 4 year olds and babies 0 to 2 year olds can spend time at a separate section with play areas earmarked especially for them called Urbano’s House, the KidZania RightZKeepers house. KidZania welcomes parents to observe their children role-playing various activities, or spend time in the Parents Lounge. This unique educational and entertainment theme park engages to empower, inspire and educate kids beyond just playing. Kids will get to enact various role-playing professions in a safe, interactive and educational environment.
Babies below 2 years of age are given free admission, and the ticket prices for children, adults and toddlers are as below:
Children (4 to 16 yrs) – Tuesday to Thursday: Rs. 800; Friday to Sunday and Public Holidays: Rs. 950
Adults (above 16 yrs) – Tuesday to Thursday: Rs. 600; Friday to Sunday and Public Holidays: Rs. 700
Toddlers (2 years plus but below 4 years of age) – Tuesday to Thursday: Rs. 600; Friday to Sunday and Public Holidays: Rs. 700
Commenting on the much awaited public opening, Sanjeev Kumar, Director & CEO, KidZania India, said, “I am delighted to declare the KidZania Mumbai is now open. We are proud to be a part of this creative and hands-on experience which encourages self-development, community awareness and collaboration. We thank our investors, Industry Partners and the team who worked closely with us and supported us to create a better world for the youth of India! Team KidZania Mumbai looks forward to empowering children through role play activities where they learn while having fun, and welcomes them to come and have a great experience along with family and friends.”
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.
