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Akhil Bhalla takes charge as product head, live and connected TV at NDTV
MUMBAI: NDTV has made a decisive play in the fast-evolving world of digital video by appointing Akhil Bhalla as product head, live and connected TV. The move signals the network’s intent to sharpen its live and connected television offerings as audiences increasingly switch between screens, platforms and formats.
In the new role, Bhalla will lead strategy and growth across NDTV’s live and connected TV products, with a clear focus on building scalable content experiences, deepening audience engagement and strengthening the network’s digital video ecosystem. In simple terms, the brief is to make live news smarter, smoother and more compelling wherever viewers choose to watch.
Sharing the news, Bhalla said, “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as product head, live and connected TV at NDTV.” It is a statement that marks a fresh chapter in a career spanning newsroom floors, broadcast control rooms and high-growth streaming platforms.
Bhalla joins NDTV after a significant stint at what was formerly Disney+ Hotstar, now JioHotstar, where the executive played a key role in building the platform’s news ecosystem from the ground up. That journey included aggregating more than 45 national and regional news channels across languages, shaping news as a product, and blending live feeds, clips and video on demand into a unified user experience. The result was not just scale, but also a reported tenfold jump in revenues within two years.
Before streaming entered the mainstream, Bhalla spent years in traditional broadcast media, holding senior editorial roles at Focus News, Zee News and Aaj Tak, and earlier reporting for BBC Hindi and Reuters-linked services. The blend of editorial instinct and product thinking now finds a new test ground at NDTV.
As connected televisions become the new living room staple, NDTV’s latest appointment suggests the network wants its news to travel easily from studio to smartphone to smart TV, without losing pace, purpose or personality.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
