MAM
Shamsher Singh named managing editor for Times Group’s Hindi & vernacular languages
Veteran TV journalist set to steer Hindi and vernacular news strategy
NEW DELHI: Shamsher Singh, a seasoned face in Hindi television journalism, has been appointed managing editor for the Hindi and vernacular language publications of the Times Group, marking another prominent chapter in a career that has spanned nearly three decades in Indian newsrooms.
Singh brings with him a deep well of editorial experience shaped across some of the country’s most recognisable media brands. Most recently, he has been serving as consulting editor at Network18 Media & Investments Limited since September 2024.
Before that, he was editor in chief at India Daily Live from April 2023 to February 2024, where he oversaw the channel’s editorial direction during a period of rapid expansion in the digital news space.
His newsroom leadership journey includes a stint as managing editor at Zee Media Corporation Limited between December 2020 and November 2022. Prior to that, he held the same role as managing editor at Republic Bharat from November 2018 to November 2020, guiding the Hindi news channel through a fiercely competitive broadcast landscape.
Singh’s earlier roles also reflect his long-standing engagement with political and current affairs coverage. At Zee Media, he served as editor for national affairs from 2017 to 2018, while at India TV he was editor for current affairs between 2013 and 2017.
Much of his formative editorial work took place at Aaj Tak, where he spent more than 15 years as deputy editor from April 1998 to October 2013, shaping coverage during a transformative era for Indian television news.
An alumnus of Patna University, Singh holds a master’s degree in journalism.
With his latest appointment at the Times Group, Singh steps into a role that sits at the intersection of legacy media and India’s fast-evolving regional news ecosystem. His task now is to sharpen the editorial voice and expand the reach of the group’s Hindi and vernacular platforms in a market where language journalism continues to command vast and loyal audiences.
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.
