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JioStar appoints Stephan Bugaj to power AI push in entertainment
MUMBAI: JioStar Group is doubling down on artificial intelligence as the next frontier of entertainment. The media and sports giant has appointed Emmy Award winner Stephan Bugaj as senior vice-president, genAI content and technology, tasking him with shaping AI-native experiences and next-generation storytelling for digital-first audiences .
The hire signals a sharper tilt towards intelligent content pipelines, interactive formats and scalable creative frameworks that allow faster experimentation and deeper audience engagement. JioStar wants AI not as garnish but as infrastructure.
Bugaj arrives from Genvid Entertainment, where as chief creative officer he co-developed the Massively Interactive Live Event format, a blend of streaming, gaming and live audience participation. He also built AI-native creative tools for filmmakers and, as creator-showrunner, led interactive productions mixing real-time engagement with premium narrative, pushing the boundaries of intelligent media.
With more than 30 years across technology and creative leadership, Bugaj has held senior roles at DJ2 Entertainment, Pixar Animation Studios, Telltale Games and Hanson Robotics. His work ranges from AI-driven content systems and adaptive narratives to digital production pipelines and immersive platforms, all geared towards expanding creative possibilities.
JioStar has already been seeding AI across its businesses through conversational interfaces, second-screen engagement layers and AI-assisted workflows. Bugaj’s arrival is expected to accelerate innovation in interactive formats built for scale. The company frames the move as part of a broader ambition to influence the future of global entertainment .
JioStar’s reach gives it a large canvas. Its television network and streaming service together touch more than 750 million viewers weekly across markets, making it one of the biggest distribution machines in media.
The bet is straightforward: as screens multiply and attention fragments, smarter content wins. In the race between algorithms and imagination, JioStar is wagering that the two, fused well, can turn viewers into participants and stories into living systems. The show, it seems, is learning to think.
Brands
SPNI promotes Tavishi Budhiraja to vice president for HR and DEI
Longtime HR leader steps up to drive revenue teams and inclusion agenda
GURUGRAM: Sony Pictures Networks India has elevated Tavishi Budhiraja to vice president, HR business partner for revenue functions and diversity and inclusion, strengthening its people leadership across key business verticals.
In her expanded role, Budhiraja will oversee HR strategy for revenue-facing teams including ad sales across linear and digital, distribution and international business, while continuing to lead the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Budhiraja has been with the network for over 15 years, rising through the ranks from HR business partner for ad sales to assistant vice president, where she also took on the diversity and inclusion mandate. Her elevation reflects both continuity and a sharper focus on aligning people strategy with business growth.
Prior to joining SPNI, she worked with Reliance Communications as deputy manager, gaining early experience in human resources.
Announcing the move, Budhiraja said she looks forward to deepening impact and strengthening people strategies across teams, while continuing to grow within the organisation.
The promotion comes as media companies increasingly invest in talent and workplace culture to support evolving revenue models and digital expansion, making HR leadership a critical lever for long-term growth.
