Television
Pankaj Rathod takes charge of History TV18 revenue at Network18
The chief revenue officer adds the factual entertainment channel to an already sprawling broadcast portfolio
MUMBAI: Pankaj Rathod has a bigger brief. The chief revenue officer for English and business channels at Network18 Media & Investments has been handed additional responsibility for leading revenue at History TV18, expanding a portfolio that already spans CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC Bajar, and CNN News18.
Rathod, who has been in the role since October 2025, announced the expanded mandate this week, describing History TV18 as “not just a channel but a powerful storytelling platform that brings together knowledge, curiosity and entertainment in a way few mediums can.”
The pitch to advertisers is straightforward. Infotainment, Rathod argues, sits at a distinctive intersection in an era of fragmented content consumption, offering brands a more meaningful and immersive way to reach discerning, engaged audiences. “Looking forward to building stronger partnerships, unlocking new possibilities for advertisers, and taking this incredible brand to the next level,” he said.
Rathod brings considerable firepower to the role. He joined Network18 in April 2024 as national revenue head for the CNBC universe and CNN News18, before being elevated to chief revenue officer for English and business channels six months later. Prior to Network18, he spent five years at CNBC-TV18, rising to national sales head. Before that, he logged six and a half years at Times Now, where he managed ad sales across BFSI, auto, education, FMCG, and telecom verticals. Earlier stints include TV18 Broadcast, Zee Entertainment, ABP Group, and Tata Infomedia.
It is a career built entirely in media sales, across print and television, spanning two decades and some of India’s most competitive broadcast properties. History TV18 now gets the full weight of that experience. For the channel’s advertisers, that is probably good news.
Sports
Fatakpay launches FPL referral campaign during IPL 2026
Fintech introduces cricket-themed rewards programme with assured digital gold and chance to win TV sets and scooter worth up to Rs 15 lakh.
MUMBAI: Fatakpay has bowled a googly that even the biggest cricket fans will love turning referrals into a full-blown Fatakpay Premier League (FPL). Riding high on IPL fever, the fintech platform has launched a high-energy referral campaign running from 28 March to 31 May 2026. Users can score big by referring friends and family to sign up for FatakPay’s Instant Loan or FatakUdaan products. Every successful referral, when the new user completes a loan disbursal or activates FatakUdaan counts as a “run” towards unlocking rewards from a total prize pool of up to Rs 15 lakh.
The campaign keeps the excitement going with guaranteed digital gold rewards at key milestones:
- Rs 100 worth of digital gold for 2 successful referrals
- Rs 500 worth of rewards for 4 referrals
- Rs 1,000 worth of rewards for 6 referrals
Users who hit 4 or 6 referrals also enter lucky draws for five 32-inch TV sets or a TVS Ntorq scooter. The scooter will be awarded once the campaign reaches a community milestone of 1,00,000 total referral applications.
Fatakpay chief business officer, Abhishek Gandhi said, “The Fatakpay Premier League taps into the energy and cultural momentum of India’s biggest cricket season, transforming referrals into a high-energy, rewarding experience. The idea is to bring the thrill of cricket to our users, where every successful referral feels like scoring a boundary. It is also our way of acknowledging the trust our users place in us every day.”
Only referrals made during the campaign window will qualify, and all rewards are subject to verification. Both referrer and referred users must meet standard eligibility criteria, including app installation and KYC completion.
In a season where boundaries and sixes dominate conversations, Fatakpay has cleverly turned everyday referrals into a playful, rewarding contest. Whether you’re chasing guaranteed gold or dreaming of that shiny new scooter, the FPL makes sharing Fatakpay as exciting as watching your favourite team chase a target. With the IPL in full swing, this campaign ensures users can enjoy the cricket and potentially take home some serious rewards while doing so.
The pitch is open until 31 May. Time to start referring and see how many “runs” you can score.
