GECs
Star appoints Ross Crowley as senior VP programming
MUMBAI: Star today announced the appointment of Ross Crowley as senior vice president programming. Crowley will be reporting to Star COO Steve Askew.
Crowley will have direct responsibility for Star World and Star Movies. He will also work with the local programming teams in strengthening the companys content development.
A media veteran with over 15 years of experience in the industry, Crowley joins from Foxtel in Australia where he was head of programming, responsible for programming strategy and channel operations across the companys owned and operated channels. Prior to Foxtel, Crowley worked for Nine Network Australia.
Commenting on the appointment, Askew said, “Bringing great content to viewers region-wide is Stars top priority. Ross, with his proven credentials and ability to deliver results, will be a tremendous addition to our team. I have no doubt he will bring a new dimension to our programming development, helping us to further enhance the quality and diversity of our offerings throughout the region.”
“I’m excited to be joining Star, Asias leading broadcaster, and in particular, having the opportunity to work with its talented team. Adding to Star’s programming strengths, as the company grows in the region, is one of the challenges I look forward to,” said Crowley.
Crowley holds a Bachelors degree in Management Studies from Waikato University in New Zealand.
GECs
Sony ties up with EU for MasterChef India finale
GI-tagged European ingredients headline finale week
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has struck what it calls a landmark association with the European Union for the finale week of MasterChef India, marking the first such collaboration between the bloc and an Indian television format.
The tie-up will culminate in the “European Union mystery box challenge”, which opens the much-anticipated finale week. The task will see the top six contestant pairs cook with a curated basket of ingredients bearing geographical indications (GIs) from across EU member states: a nod to provenance as well as palate.
Chef Ajay and Chef Guntas, introduced as chef ambassadors to the European Union, will present the mystery boxes and set the brief: use the fewest ingredients from each category and produce a MasterChef-level dish that marries European produce with Indian flavour sensibilities. Precision and restraint, rather than extravagance, will be tested.
For Sony, the move signals a push towards high-value integrations that blur the line between sponsorship and storytelling. The network said the association underscores the show’s growing global stature and its ability to attract world-renowned institutions to Indian screens.
Chef Ajay Chopra, food ambassador in the European Union, described the collaboration as a strategic opportunity to spotlight the heritage and authenticity of GI-tagged European products to India’s vast food-loving audience.
Over the years, MasterChef India has positioned itself as a gateway to global cuisines. The EU partnership sharpens that pitch, turning the finale into a stage for cross-continental culinary diplomacy.
The finale week will air from 2 March, 2026 at 8 pm on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony Liv.
