People
News18 Kannada strengthens its core team with new appointments
News18 Kannada, the most trusted news channel in Karnataka, announced the appointment of Siddu Kaloji and Swaroop Murgod. Siddu joins the channel as Editor (News and Programming) and Swaroop as Head of Production. The channel also announced the elevation of Vijayalakshmi Shibarur and Lakshmana Hoogar to the core leadership team.
Commenting on the appointments, Karthik Subbaraman, Executive Editor (Special Projects), Network 18, said, “Siddu and Swaroop are among the finest talents in journalism in Karnataka. They bring innovation, creativity and speed, attributes which will help take what is the state’s most credible news channel to a wider audience. Vijayalakhsmi Shibarur, who ranks among the best investigative journalists in the country, is also moving into a frontline role as part of the core leadership team of News18 Kannada. And so is Lakshmana Hoogar, a fearless anchor who heads political coverage. I wish all of them the best for their new roles and upcoming challenges.”
All input, output and programming functions at the channel will now report to Siddu. He has over two decades of experience in news television. He has worked for News18 Kannada in its former avatar as ETV News Kannada and Zee News.
Swaroop is a Network18 veteran, having had a stint at what CNN News18 in Delhi. In a career of 22 years so far, he has worked at Aaj Tak, Star News, News9, ESPN Cricinfo, NDTV and Asianet.
People
Devika Prabhu joins Sony Pictures Networks India as business head – Hindi movies
Former Disney Star executive returns to SPNI to steer the network’s Hindi movie business
MUMBAI: Devika Prabhu is heading back to familiar turf. The veteran media executive has joined Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) as business head – Hindi movies, marking a return to the broadcaster where she began her early leadership journey.
Prabhu announced the move on LinkedIn, calling it both a new beginning and a homecoming. Earlier in her career, she spent several years at SPNI—then Multi Screen Media—working on strategic planning for Sony Entertainment Television.
The appointment brings to SPNI a media strategist with more than 25 years of experience across content, programming, brand strategy and platform growth. Most recently, Prabhu served at Disney Star as vice-president and business head – kids, youth and infotainment TV, where she led the Disney Kids and National Geographic portfolios following the Disney–Fox merger.
During her tenure, she oversaw a Rs 400-crore P&L while pushing digital expansion, partnerships and operational efficiencies. Earlier roles at Disney Star included leadership across programming, acquisitions, marketing and product strategy for multiple networks, including the UTV movie channels and youth brands.
Prabhu’s career has also spanned building cross-platform intellectual property, developing kids and family content ecosystems, and forging international format partnerships. She was closely involved in bringing global formats and franchises to Indian audiences and is widely credited with helping shape India’s anime fandom into a mainstream youth phenomenon.
At SPNI, she will now lead the Hindi movies business at a time when film channels are rethinking their role in a fragmented viewing landscape. With audiences discovering cinema across television, streaming and digital platforms, the challenge is not just programming films but reimagining how they reach viewers.
Prabhu believes movies still hold a unique cultural power, sparking conversations and creating shared moments long after the credits roll.
Now back where part of her journey began, she is set to write the next act, this time from the business seat of Hindi movie television. Lights, camera, strategy.
