News Broadcasting
‘Sumo’ Dutta to head Star’s wireless division
NEW DELHI: Well, we had alluded to this development happening in March, and so it has come to be. Not content with dominating the Indian cable and satellite TV market — media analysts project that Star Group’s growth in Asia would be largely fuelled by the Indian operation’s stridency — Star has now set its eyes on tapping the wireless business in a big way in India and China in conjunction with its TV business.
In India, the newly created wireless business development division is being headed by Sumantra ‘Sumo’ Dutta. He also looks after the FM radio venture Radio City carried out in association with a PK Mittal company.
What’s more, to give shape to these plans and future growth areas, Star India has gone in for a management rejig. This is to ensure that operations and strategic business and corporate planning do not work in isolation of each other.
Pointing out that the re-organization of the management team was made effective earlier this week, Star India CEO Peter Mukherjea told Indiantelevision.com, “As our business grows, the challenges too increase. A brilliant strategy (or strategies) would mean keeping the company’s growth rate ahead of that of the
industry. The re-organisation is aimed in that direction.”
Under the new dispensation, all business and strategic planning, including corporate communication and client servicing, would be brought under a team headed by
Nitin Atroley, who would be based in Delhi.
Atroley joined Star India from Ernst & Young earlier this year as head of corporate affairs. However now with newer responsibilities he may be redesignated. This is an issue that is still being worked upon.
The operations team, which would include divisions like distribution, programming, marketing and ad sales, will be headed by company veteran and Star India COO Sameer Nair.
For more on these developments in Star India, dubbed by a business magazine as the country’s biggest media company, stay tuned.
News Broadcasting
UDF poised to return to power in Kerala, says Manorama-CVoter survey
Massive opinion poll projects shift in Kerala politics ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.
MUMBAI: The winds of change appear to be blowing through Kerala’s political landscape and this time, they seem to favour the United Democratic Front. A comprehensive mega opinion survey conducted by Manorama News in partnership with CVoter projects a potential comeback for the UDF in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. The survey, covering all 140 constituencies with a massive sample size of nearly 90,000 respondents, predicts the UDF could win between 69 and 81 seats.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to secure 57 to 69 seats, a significant drop from the 99 seats it won in the 2021 elections. This would mean the LDF losing 30 to 42 of its sitting seats. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which drew a blank in 2021, is projected to open its account with 1 to 5 seats.
Region-wise, the UDF is expected to make strong gains in Malabar, winning 25 to 34 out of 48 seats, and in Central Kerala, where it could bag 29 to 33 out of 53 seats. In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to retain an edge with 21 to 25 seats, while the UDF may improve to 12 to 16 seats. The NDA could pick up 1 to 3 seats in the southern region.
The survey was conducted between 14 and 26 March 2026, with additional tracker and snap polls carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 89,693 respondents participated, ensuring representation across all demographics and social segments.
Manorama News has a strong track record of accuracy, with its previous projections closely matching the actual results of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls.
In Kerala’s famously fierce political battles, this survey suggests the pendulum may be swinging back. Whether the final verdict matches these numbers or throws up another surprise, one thing is clear, the 2026 Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched contests in the state’s history.
