News Broadcasting
Disney’s ‘My School Rocks’ gears up for National roll out in November
MUMBAI: Following the global success and drawing inspiration from Disney Channel’s original movie High School Musical, Disney in India is set to introduce a country wide interschool group-dance competition ‘My School Rocks.’
Walt Disney Television International (India) executive director – programming and production Nachiket Pantvaidya said, “Disney Channel programming reflects real kids’ lives, their aspirations and dreams. ‘My School Rocks’ is all about encouraging kids to express themselves while learning the value of teamwork. As in the movie High School Musical, this contest is about believing in yourself and following your dreams.”
The last date for schools to register with the Disney Channel is 10 November. Participating schools will choreograph a dance sequence on the High School Musical hit song ‘Ho ek hi aim’ and appear for auditions at select locations in cities across India. Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan would then shortlist five finalists from the entries received. Disney Channel will air vignettes of these five performances in December and the final winner will be decided based on audience polls by Disney Channel viewers and Saroj Khan’s evaluation of the teams, informs an official release.
The winning group will star in a special music video, which will be choreographed by the Khan that will premiere on Disney Channel on 25 December 2006.
Nachiket added, “High School Musical has created rating highs across the globe. Its popularity among Indian audiences symbolizes the popularity of Disney Channel’s contemporary and universally relevant content. ‘My School Rocks’ contest is an effort, in the context of the movie, to provide Disney Channel viewers delightful moments to be enjoyed with the peer group and the entire family.”
Audition dates across select cities in India include:
– Amritsar: 9 November
– Kolkata and Delhi: 15 and 16 November
– Mumbai: 16 and 17 November
– Ahmedabad: 17 November
Khan and Nachiket today visited the Father Agnel School, Gautam Nagar, New Delhi to congratulate the school on being the first to register in this all-India event.
Saroj Khan said, “Being associated with kids through a Disney Channel event is definitely a very different experience. I am extremely excited about this dance contest and am looking forward to meeting and dancing with a lot of kids! The uniqueness of the event is in its philosophy of self-expression and that’s a beautiful thing to teach our kids today.”
The foot tapping music of High School Musical was rendered in Hindi by industry stalwarts Sunidhi Chauhan, Naresh Kamath, Shweta Pandit, Neuman Pinto, and directed by John Stewart, programmed by DJ G and John Stewart. The on-ground events include the ‘My School Rocks’ school contact program across 650 schools in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Amritsar where principals and art teachers are being briefed about the contest. They are being presented with the ‘My School Rocks’ kit complete with the VCD, lyric sheets, dance moves etc.
My School Rocks is being presented by Cadbury Bournvita in association with Reynolds Pens, Nippo Batteries, Candyman Cofitino, Peppy and Pizza Corner.
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.
