MAM
Amit Achupulaya steps up as manager, production services, sports at JioStar
MUMBAI: Amit Achupulaya has marked a new chapter in his long sports-broadcast journey, announcing his role as manager, production services, sports at JioStar. While he has been part of the organisation, this elevated position reflects his steady rise across India’s fast-paced world of sports production.
Achupulaya’s journey spans major broadcast houses and some of the biggest sporting properties in the country and overseas. He spent more than 18 years at CNBC-TV18, growing from video editor to chief video editor and leading the channel’s post-production operations.
His portfolio covers the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, several IPL seasons for Mumbai Indians’ digital shows, and multiple ISL campaigns with Deltatre as a Libero and Piero operator. Before moving into his current role at JioStar, he served as manager and chief video editor at Sports18, handling brand solutions, match packaging and post-production workflows.
From live match edits to AR graphics, from team leadership to technical execution, Achupulaya has consistently shaped the visual storytelling behind India’s biggest sporting moments.
His new role at JioStar builds on that experience, placing him at the centre of a rapidly evolving sports broadcasting landscape where precision, creativity and speed remain the name of the game.
Brands
ZEEL transfers syndication business, invests Rs 505 crore in IP push
Restructuring, stake buy and FCCB moves signal sharper content strategy
MUMBAI: In the content economy, owning the story is half the battle monetising it is the real game, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is doubling down on both. The company has approved the transfer of its syndication and content licensing business to its wholly owned subsidiary ZI-IPR Enterprises, alongside an investment of Rs 505 crore aimed at strengthening its play in content intellectual property (IP) acquisition, management and monetisation. The move, effective April 1, 2026, will see the business transferred on a slump sale basis at book value, including all associated assets, liabilities and commercial rights effectively consolidating IP operations under a more focused structure.
At its core, the restructuring signals a strategic shift. As content consumption increasingly fragments across digital and global platforms, the value of IP lies not just in creation but in how efficiently it can be distributed, repackaged and monetised across markets. By housing its syndication engine within ZI-IPR Enterprises, ZEEL appears to be building a more agile and scalable ecosystem, one that can better extract value from its vast content library while adapting to evolving distribution models.
But the company’s ambitions are not limited to restructuring. ZEEL has also approved an investment of up to Rs 20.09 crore in Culture of Real Experiences (CORE), acquiring a 51 per cent stake in the entity. The move expands its footprint into the broader creative and experiential space, suggesting a push beyond traditional broadcasting into areas where content, culture and immersive experiences intersect.
At the same time, ZEEL has moved to tidy up its financials, approving the redemption of $23.9 million in outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and cancelling an unused $215.1 million commitment. The twin steps are expected to ease pressure on its treasury, freeing up capital and improving financial flexibility as the company invests more aggressively in its IP strategy.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a company in recalibration mode streamlining legacy structures, sharpening its focus on content ownership, and exploring new avenues for growth. In a market where the lines between television, streaming and experiential entertainment are increasingly blurred, ZEEL’s latest moves suggest it is not just creating content, but building a system to make that content travel further and pay better.
