News Broadcasting
Two executive appointments at Sony
MUMBAI: Sony Entertainment has instituted some repositioning in its executive hierarchy both at the national and international level.
Rajan Singh has been promoted to executive V-P for international business, Sony Entertainment Television Asia (SET Asia), while Mukesh Bhavnani has been appointed SET India’s general legal counsel.
Singh now heads all SET Asia’s (the international feed for SET) operations outside the Indian subcontinent and will continue to report directly to SET CEO Kunal Dasgupta. According to a company release, Singh will oversee sales, marketing and distribution efforts in over 100 countries around the world. Singh has already commenced work towards launching the channel in Canada and the Gulf next month. SET Asia’s international business is expected to make a $10 million profit in the next financial year, the release says.
Although Singh will continue to be based in London, with major channel operations in North America, Africa and the Middle East, he will also have several offices overseas. As a result of his promotion, Singh is now the highest-ranking executive in the South Asian pay-TV sector outside of the Indian subcontinent
Prior to his promotion Singh was senior V-P for international business responsible for SET Asia’s European, North American and African operations. Singh joined SET Asia as general manager of UK and European Operations in 1999 and was the driving force behind the channel’s great success in that territory – more than doubling the number of subscribers in little over a year.
A native of Leicester, England, Singh held a variety of senior positions within the Asian media before joining SET Asia. Most recently he was employed by Digital Media Services on a consultancy basis to establish Asian television and radio stations in East Africa.
Before this he was CEO of Zee Television in the UK and Europe. In this capacity he was responsible for the development of Zee’s business operations in the European region. Singh was also eventually to oversee the establishment of the channel’s African operations.
Bhavnani, meanwhile, will be responsible for providing legal expertise and counsel to all strategic business decisions and initiatives undertaken by SET India. Bhavnani, a legal professional and a qualified company secretary has over 24 years of experience in laws of India and several other jurisdictions. He will be a core member of the management team at Sony and will deal with legal and related matters for all of Sony’s businesses.
Bhanvnani’s last assignment was with Max New York Life Insurance as director (regulatory affairs and compliance) and before that with Coca Cola India Inc as senior legal counsel. Earlier, he worked with Jumbo Electronics in Dubai as GM legal, Godrej Soaps also as GM (Legal and Purchase). Bhavnani has also worked with Richardson Hindustan (now Procter and Gamble India) and E-Merck India.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
