News Broadcasting
Zee News rejigs to meet uplink norms
MUMBAI: The Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms has decided to hive off its news business into a separate company, Zee News Pvt Ltd, which will have scaled down foreign holding.
The restructuring was done to comply with government regulations, which stipulate that news channels uplinking from India should not have more than 26 per cent foreign investment. Indian shareholding of 51 per cent is mandatory too.
In Zee News Pvt Ltd, Jayaneer Capital Private Ltd will hold 40 per cent and Churu Trading Company Private Ltd 25 per cent equity stake. Both are Indian companies with Indian promoters.
In the restructured news entity, Zee Telefilms’ equity stake is 35 per cent, which works out under a complex formula to about 20 per cent of foreign holding to comply with the 26 per cent cap.
How does this formula work that is based on a total 58 per cent total foreign holding in Zee Telefilms? The foreign holding in the restructed Zee News Pvt Ltd has been calculated at the rate of 35 per cent (Zee Telefilms holding in Zee News) of 58 per cent (foreign holding in Zee Tele).
The details of the restructuring were confirmed to indiantelevision.com by company sources after Zee Tele informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the government of the changes.
As part of the regulatory requirements, Zee Tele informed BSE, the company is planning to transfer its business and activity relating to news and current affairs, including assets and liabilities,to Zee News Pvt Ltd.
The activities comprise gathering of content, editing, making it broadcast worthy, broadcasting and uplinking content on Zee News channel and on certain time slots of regional language channels.
The Zee Tele board will meet at a later date to approve the changes and the appropriate terms and conditions effected in the company relating to the news business.
The restructuring of the news business was necessitated as being part of Zee Telefilms Ltd, the foreign holding in the news channels — Zee News and Zee Business — were way above the stipulated government norms.
The government has set 30 September as one the many extended deadlines for news channels to comply with uplinking guidelines. Business channel CNBCTV18 will also have to restructure to comply with the guidelines.
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.
