News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2024 to honour India’s icons on 17 January
MUMBAI: The wait is almost over!
CNN-News18 Indian of the Year (IOTY) 2024, the 14th edition of India’s most prestigious television awards, will unveil its winners on 17 January 2025, in a grand ceremony in New Delhi. With a legacy of honouring exceptional achievements, IOTY has become the ultimate stage for recognising those who’ve inspired, amazed, and made India proud.
From Shah Rukh Khan to Neeraj Chopra and Virat Kohli, past winners have embodied excellence. Who will join this elite club in 2024?
The awards span seven major categories—entertainment, sports, rising sports star, youth icon, business, climate warrior, and social change. These categories celebrate everything from cinematic brilliance to environmental activism.
Here’s the twist: 50 per cent of the decision lies with you, the audience, while an illustrious jury panel decides the rest. The jury includes heavyweights like Sanjiv Goenka, Harish Salve, Ramesh Sippy, and more. What’s your pick for the winners?
The spotlight will shine on some of the biggest names:
● Sports: Olympic stars like Manu Bhaker and cricketers like Jasprit Bumrah.
● Entertainment: Powerhouses like Shraddha Kapoor, Vijay Sethupathi, and Pankaj Tripathi.
● Youth Icons: Vicky Kaushal and rising entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath.
● Business Leaders: Visionaries like Deepinder Goyal (Zomato CEO) and Bhavish Aggarwal (Ola CEO).
But it’s not just the glitz and glamour. Climate warriors like Vinisha Umashankar and changemakers like Palak Muchhal in Social Change are also vying for honours.
What makes IOTY stand out?
Network18 CEO – english & business news, Smriti Mehra nailed it when she said, “The immense popularity of Indian of the Year lies in its legacy of recognising and celebrating excellence over the past thirteen editions. From icons such as Shah Rukh Khan and Neeraj Chopra to visionary leaders such as Narendra Modi and Manmohan Singh, our past winners have truly embodied the spirit of the Indian of the Year title. This platform has become a hallmark of achievement, inspiring audiences and delivering unparalleled value to the brands that associate with it.”
Meanwhile, CNN-News18 managing editor Zakka Jacob added, “The awards evening will be a gathering of the greatest of Indians who have made the country proud over the past year. As we step into the new year, it’s important to look back at the achievements of the past year that hold significance for us as a nation. We are excited to celebrate the remarkable contributions of those who rose above challenges and inspired next generations.”
The event, hosted by CNN-News18, promises a glittering display of India’s best and brightest. Catch the action at 6 pm on 17 January on CNN-News18 or via live stream on www.indianoftheyear.com.
Who will walk away with the title? Will it be a star athlete, an inspiring climate activist, or a business mogul? Join the conversation and don’t miss the magic of India’s achievers being celebrated.
News Broadcasting
Rajesh Sundaram joins NDTV Profit as senior editor, assignment
The 32-year newsroom veteran has launched channels on three continents and covered everything from 9/11 to South African television
MUMBAI: NDTV Profit has bolstered its newsroom with a hire who has done rather more than most. Rajesh Sundaram, a journalist with over three decades of editorial, managerial and consultative experience across India and international markets, joins as senior editor, assignment, tasked with sharpening the network’s newsgathering and real-time response.
Sundaram’s career reads like a tour of Indian media’s most formative moments. He began at Businessworld in 1994, moved to Zee News as bureau chief across Mumbai and Chennai, then joined NDTV in 2002 as part of its political bureau during a particularly febrile period in Indian politics. A stint as India correspondent for Al Jazeera International followed, where he covered key geopolitical developments and got his first serious taste of the global newsroom.
What sets Sundaram apart, however, is his serial channel-launching habit. At NewsX, he helped get the operation off the ground. At Headlines Today, part of the India Today Group, he served as editor. At News Nation, he helped launch the Hindi news channel and its digital ecosystem. He then crossed continents to lead the launch of ANN7 in South Africa as editor-in-chief, overseeing both television and digital. Back in India, he launched Tamil news channels News7 Tamil and Cauvery News, and later served as principal consultant for the launch of Marathi channel Lokshahi. Most recently, he helped build and lead the Press Trust of India’s video service and content studio, before stints consulting for Business Today and The Himalayan Times.
Rahul Kanwal, chief executive and editor-in-chief of NDTV, left little doubt about what Sundaram is expected to deliver. “The assignment desk is where a newsroom’s intent becomes action,” he said. “Rajesh brings a rare combination of field experience and leadership in building news operations at scale.”
Sundaram has reported from across India and the world, covering elections, civil conflicts, the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the 2008 US presidential election.
At NDTV Profit, he will lead the assignment desk, driving editorial coordination and real-time response across markets and breaking developments. For a business news network sharpening its focus on speed and multi-platform delivery, it has hired a man who has built newsrooms from scratch on three continents. The assignment desk is in good hands.
