MAM
Endemol to manage production of ‘Laughter Challenge’
MUMBAI: With the Indian television landscape growing at a healthy rate, companies from abroad are increasingly starting to look at ways to tap it. Format creator Endemol has set up Endemol India with Rajesh Kamat as its MD. This marks the 23rd territory that Endemol has a presence in.
Talking about this Endemol chief creative officer Peter Bazalgette says, “We are very excited to be India. We are thrilled to have Rajesh who comes to us from Star. He has a strong handle on television. In India new media platforms like broadband and DTH will take off. 3G will come in soon. Endemol is a multimedia company that creates formats, which are then exploited across different platforms. India offers great potential here. In fact I think that 3G will grow faster in India than it has in Europe.”
As its first major project Endemol will work with Star on the second season of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. While being tight lipped on details Kamat says that the show will see enhanced production vales. Endemol has also brought new creative ideas to the table.
Endemol also hopes to produce Big Brother in India. The company has 900 formats in its portfolio and this is one of its top properties. Bazalgette says that the show will appeal to Indian viewers as it is a real life soap opera. Both Kamat and Bazalgette, however, refused comment when their attention was drawn to a recent Biz Asia that quoted officials in Sony Entertainment Television Asia as confirming that it will be telecasting a localised version of the risque reality TV show. Endemol was in talks with a number of broadcasters in India in regards to Big Brother was all they would say.
Besides introducing formats in India Endemol is also hoping to take Indian formats abroad.
In the medium term, Endemol also hopes to enter the Indian fiction space. It has done crime dramas for European channels and also has a deal for telenovellas in Latin America with Televisa and Globo. As Bazalgette says, “I admire Indias strength in the fiction genre. We are not looking to teach Indian companies how to make great fiction. Our aim will be to look at how we can bring value to fiction through creative inputs. We might look at forming a joint venture in this regard.”
India marks Enedmol’s first entry post in Asia. The format major is also launching Endemol South East Asia which will be headquartered out of Bangkok, Thailand.
MAM
Infectious Advertising promotes Siddhartha Singh to CEO and managing partner
Leadership reshuffle sees Nisha Singhania shift focus to strategy and growth
MUMBAI: Infectious Advertising has elevated Siddhartha Singh to chief executive officer and managing partner, marking a key leadership transition at the independent agency.
Singh, who previously served as chief operating officer, has been credited with strengthening the agency’s operational framework and deepening client relationships during a phase of sustained growth. His elevation signals a continued push towards integrating strategy and creativity while scaling the business.
As part of the reshuffle, Nisha Singhania, co-founder and managing partner, will step away from day-to-day executive responsibilities to focus on strategic initiatives and the agency’s next growth phase.
Infectious Advertising co-founders and managing partners Nisha Singhania and Ramanuj Shastry said, “Siddhartha understands both the ambition and the soul of this agency. This elevation reflects the trust he has earned over the years.”
Infectious Advertising chief executive officer Siddhartha Singh said, “Infectious has always been about creating work that people care about. I’m humbled by the trust and excited to lead the agency at a time when there is a significant opportunity to create real impact.”
In his new role, Singh will work closely with the founders to steer the agency’s next phase, with a focus on deeper strategic integration, long-term client partnerships, and continued investment in talent and culture.
The transition underscores the agency’s emphasis on internal leadership development as it looks to build a future-ready organisation anchored in its core values.
