MAM
Deepak Ranjan B4U national ad sales head
MUMBAI: B4U Television Network has appointed Deepak Ranjan as its national ad sales head, filling up the vacancy after a gap of eight months. Ranjan had earlier served stints in Zee Telefilms and Sahara.
The network, which was in limbo for two years, is also putting its distribution in place. Sources say B4U has reached agreement on carriage fees with leading multi system operator (MSO) Incablenet for distribution of its two channels, B4U Movies and B4U Music. Siticable and several other independent operators have also agreed to carry the channels in certain cities while talks are on with Hathway Cable & Datacom.
“We did not have a national ad sales head for so long because the distribution of our channels was not in place. Now that we are sorting out the carriage issue, we feel it is the right time to have an ad sales head. We are in advanced stage of negotiations with Hathway Cable & Datacom,” says B4U Television Network chief operating officer in charge of India operations BL Gautam.
B4U’s next step will be to revive acquisition of movies, even as Sahara is gearing up to launch its movie channel `Filmi.’ “It will make sense to acquire movies once our distribution is guaranteed. We will be investing big money on movies,” says Gautam.
B4U’s global chief executive officer Sunil Rohra, who is based out of UK, was currently in India to chalk out the company’s growth plans.
Brands
Axis Bank named Official Banking Partner of DP World PGTI
Partnership supports all tournaments this season to grow professional golf in India.
MUMBAI: Axis Bank just teed up a hole-in-one partnership because when a bank sponsors golf’s biggest swing in India, even the fairways feel more financially secure. Axis Bank has been appointed Official Banking Partner of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (DP World PGTI), strengthening its commitment to sporting excellence and community engagement while backing the growth of professional golf across the country.
Under the partnership, Axis Bank will support all DP World PGTI tournaments this season, contributing to talent development, enhanced tournament experiences and wider fan engagement. The collaboration aligns the bank’s values of precision, discipline and trust with the Tour’s focus on performance and opportunity.
Axis Bank executive director Munish Sharda said, “We are pleased to partner with DP World PGTI as its Official Banking Partner. Golf embodies precision, discipline, and a pursuit of excellence qualities that strongly reflect who we are at Axis Bank. This association also strengthens our engagement with India’s growing premium customer segments, where the sport has a deep and enduring connect.”
Professional Golf Tour of India president Kapil Dev said, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Axis Bank as a Tour Partner of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India. Partnerships of this stature play a vital role in strengthening the foundation of the Tour, enhancing opportunities for our players, and expanding the sport’s reach across the country.”
Professional Golf Tour of India CEO Amandeep Johl added, “Axis Bank’s strong legacy of excellence, innovation, and nationwide reach aligns perfectly with DP World PGTI’s goal to elevate professional golf in India and provide greater opportunities for our players.”
In a sport where every stroke counts and every partnership drives distance, Axis Bank isn’t just backing golfers, it’s investing in the fairway to future, turning India’s greens into a stage where precision meets passion and every drive has the power to inspire.
