Executive Dossier
Kevin Vaz takes charge as ad sales head of Star network
MUMBAI: It was the first day at the office today for Star India senior vice-president Kevin Vaz as advertising sales head for the entire network at India’s lead broadcaster.
Vaz has been heading ad sales at Star Plus, which accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the network’s ad revenues, for well over a year now. He was presented to the team at Star by the senior management today where the formal announcement of the restructure in its ad sales operations was made, informed sources say.
With Vaz’s elevation, Star will have a dedicated head of sales for the first time since the departure Raj Nayak in September 2002.
At the time Nayak left, Star India Ceo Peter Mukerjea took additional charge of the ad sales function before handing it over to his deputy, Star India COO Sameer Nair, a few months later.
The other two senior V-Ps — Joy Chakravarti (heading Star News, Star Gold and Star Vijay) and Monica Tata (Star Movies, Star World, Channel [V], National Geographic and The History Channel) — will now be reporting to Vaz. The buzz that Vaz would be taking overall charge has been doing the industry rounds for a while now so the move does not really come as a surprise.
A company spokesperson has confirmed the developments to indiantelevision.com.
MUMBAI: Game faces on, pressure high India’s gaming ambitions are levelling up. Good Game, billed as the world’s first as-live global gaming reality show, has officially launched in India with a bold mission: to crown the country’s first Global Gaming Superstar.
Blending esports with mainstream entertainment, the show brings together competitive gaming, creativity and on-camera performance in a format that tests more than just joystick skills. Contestants will be judged on gameplay, screen presence and their ability to perform under pressure, reflecting how gaming has evolved from pastime to profession and pop culture currency.
Fronting the show are three high-profile ambassadors: actor and entrepreneur Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant, and gaming creator Ujjwal Chaurasia. The winner will take home Rs 1 crore ($100,000) among the largest prize pools for any Indian reality show along with the chance to represent India on a global stage.
Backed by a planned annual investment of up to Rs 100 crore, Good Game is also courting brand partners, promising a minimum reach of 500 million among India’s core youth audience. The creators position the show as a bridge between entertainment and interactive culture, offering long-format content, community engagement and commercial scale.
Auditions are now open to Indian citizens aged 18 and above, inviting amateur and professional gamers, creators and performers alike. Shortlisted candidates will be called for in-person auditions in Mumbai on 14 and 15 February, and in Delhi on 28 February and 1 March 2026.
With big money, big names and even bigger ambition, Good Game signals a shift in how India views gaming not just as play, but as performance, profession and prime-time spectacle.
