MAM
Star makes strong leadership statement
MUMBAI: It’s getting on to just about four years at the top for Star Plus and looks like the channel has decided to make a strong positioning and leadership statement about the fact to the media community.
Prominent ads in the two leading pink dailies The Economic Times and The Business Standard today had two key tag lines – One states that when it comes to the fight for the top slot on the ratings charts, there is simply no contest as far as rival channels were concerned. The blurb reads “Kasautii… v/s Kahaani… v/s Kyunki… (It’s a tough fight for the top slot.)”. Being stressed here is the fact that at Star Plus, the battle for the Numero Uno programme status is a purely internal one.
The other ad hypes the fact that when it comes to delivering prime time ratings, afternoons or evenings makes no difference to Star Plus.
The ads, primarily targeted at corporates and marketing executives, has a slugline just below the Star Plus logo that reads ‘The Star of your media Plan’. Also interesting is the fact that while earlier Star Plus’ ads carried the base line of ‘Just Imagine’; it has been strategically replaced by ‘India’s No. 1 Network’, thus making a strong leadership statement.
With the success of Star Plus’ afternooner Kumkum which has recently made it into the Top 20 and registered an all time high TVR of 13.2 in April 2004, it comes as no surprise that the ad in The Business Standard proudly states: “Frankly, even we can’t tell what our primetime is… Evenings or Afternoons.” The ad also states that the channel’s Monday to Thursday afternoon audience base is 1.6 times the Monday to Thursday primetime audience base of both Sony and Zee combined, according to Tam data.
On the other hand, the ad in The Economic Times states – “Kasautii.. v/s Kahaani… v/s Kyunki… (It’s a tough fight for the top slot.)” All three serials have been undefeated at the top for quite a while now. Delivering ratings around the 15 TVR mark, these shows claim to command a viewing share of around 50 per cent for the channel. The ad also says that it is not surprising that top brands turn to Star Plus, India’s No. 1 channel, when they want to talk to India’s heartland.
“Competition? What competition?” is the message that Star is trumpeting out loud.
This does raise a counter question though. Star Plus’ leadership status has never been in question these last four years, so isn’t it a case of stating the obvious? Or is it that all the media noise rival Sony has been making recently around its activities (especially around new show Yeh Merri Life Hai) was becoming all too deafening?
Brands
YFLO appoints Tania Nijhawan as president for 2026-27 term
Dentist-entrepreneur to lead women’s body amid rising focus on leadership
NEW DELHI: Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO), the women’s arm of FICCI, has appointed Tania Nijhawan as its president for the 2026-27 tenure, effective April 2026, at a time when conversations around women’s leadership in India are gaining fresh momentum.
A cosmetic and paediatric dentist with over 15 years of experience, Nijhawan is the founder of Udana Wellness, a multi-speciality clinic in Vasant Vihar known for its focus on advanced treatments and patient-centric care. She also serves as director at Nijhawan Group and is an active investor in start-ups across health, wellness and hospitality, including Nuts For Us.
Her academic credentials include advanced training from global institutions such as New York University, the University of Southern California and University College London, shaping her multidisciplinary approach across dentistry and wellness.
YFLO has long positioned itself as a platform for leadership, entrepreneurship and professional growth, bringing together women across industries to drive dialogue and collaboration. Under Nijhawan’s leadership, the organisation is expected to sharpen its focus on cross-sector engagement and meaningful, future-facing conversations.
Speaking on her appointment, Tania Nijhawan said, “YFLO has always stood for meaningful engagement and forward-thinking dialogue. I look forward to building a platform that not only encourages exchange of ideas but also actively supports emerging voices and creates opportunities for collaboration across sectors.”
She added, “The Women’s Reservation Bill, which seeks to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, is not just a policy shift, it is a generational opportunity. It acknowledges the urgent need for women to have a stronger voice in shaping the nation’s future. True progress lies not just in representation, but in enabling women to lead with agency, confidence and impact.”
As president, Nijhawan will focus on curated programming, high-impact industry conversations and initiatives that bring together women across disciplines. Her theme for the year, “Lead With Your Light,” signals a push towards purpose-led leadership and greater confidence among emerging voices.
Her appointment marks a new chapter for YFLO, one that aims to align leadership, enterprise and policy at a time when women’s voices are increasingly central to India’s growth story.
