MAM
CNBC-TV18 to have a distribution head
Mumbai: CNBC-TV18 has hired a head of distribution, ahead of the launch of its Hindi business news channel.
The two channels, however, will continue to be part of the Zee-Turner distribution bouquet. The responsibility of the distribution head will be to liaison with the Zee-Turner team.
Sisir Pillai, who was chief of the film exhibition division in Metalight Productions, has been hired to head the distribution team. He will be reporting to the marketing head and may have a small team.
Walt Disney and NDTV have set up dedicated distribution teams, despite being part of distribution bouquets. The idea is to monitor the distribution growth and placement of the channels.
With cable networks getting choked in bandwidth, new channels are fighting to get carried to consumer homes. One way out is to join an existing bouquet. But as distribution bouquets are becoming larger, channels feel the need of having their own team to provide specific attention. A dedicated distribution team will interact with cable operators on a regular basis to try and push the channels in a crowded environment.
But CNBC-TV18 has no such plans of setting up a dedicated distribution team the way Walt Disney is doing, says chief executive officer Haresh Chawla. “We are not having such plans as Walt Disney. We are launching a new channel. So we have added a distribution head who will form part of the marketing team.”
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
