GECs
Maharashtra hatches plans for Formula One circuit
MUMBAI: If things go according to script then Mumbai fans could well get to see the likes of Michael Schumacher zooming around in their own backyard.Prominent politician Sharad Pawar, in conjunction with the Motorsports Association of India (MAI) president Nazir Hoosein outlined plans for a proposed Formula One racing circuit. This will be developed in the state in conjunction with the future development plans for Maharashtra.
An official release informs that with the Expressway already in place between Mumbai and Pune plans are afoot for the upgradation of the International Airport in Mumbai, and the construction of new International Airport in Pune. Therefore an ideal opportunity presents itself for the setting up of a Formula One Circuit between the two cities.
As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com Mumbai and Pune have already arrived on the international motorsports scene with the recent announcement of MRF India Rally 2003, a round FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship 2003 to be held here in December 2003, under the aegis of the FIA and MAI. Over 20 international teams are expected to take part in this exciting international motorsport event. The proposal is to include this event as part of the FIA World Rally Championship in the coming years.
Hoosein said, “The fact that Mumbai is the financial capital of India and is a major contributor both of corporate and individual direct taxes in India, will contribute in no small measure to the selection of the Formula One Circuit to Maharashtra.”
The release adds that the infrastructural requirements of accommodation, road transport and communication are already in place for such a venture. The only thorn is the capability of the international airport, which hopefully will be upgraded in near future.
Formula One travels around 16 countries for as many races, and creates an enormous financial opportunity for the host country. The economic impact of a Formula One race is estimated at around $ 140 million for the local community and creates direct and indirect job opportunities to the extent of 75,000 people. Countries like Malaysia developed their tourism industry and generated tremendous employment opportunities after setting up of the Formula One Circuit the release states.
Meanwhile Formula One TV audiences have remained buoyant and stable since 2002, according to a mid season report. This was recently published by independent market research company Sports Marketing Surveys. The report has noted that interesting races, combined with no less than eight different winners of the Grand Prix, have meant that despite a slow start to the season, audiences have returned to last years levels. The new qualifying format contributed to more interest, with sponsors obtaining more exposure than last year.
GECs
ZEEL overhauls sales structure to chase growth across TV and digital platforms
New structure sharpens digital push as viewing habits fragment fast
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. is reshuffling its sales playbook as it looks to keep pace with a fast-changing media landscape, where audiences are scattered, screens are multiplying and advertisers are following the data.
According to media reports, the rejig is anchored in the company’s push to build a more integrated, data-led monetisation engine, one that can straddle both traditional television and fast-growing digital platforms with equal ease.
At the heart of the move is a reworked sales architecture designed to deliver cross-platform solutions. With connected TV gaining ground and digital consumption surging, ZEEL is aligning its teams to move quicker, think broader and sell smarter.
The restructuring is being led by chief operating officer, advertisement revenue, Sandeep Mehrotra, at a time when the company says it is seeing tremendous growth. The idea is simple: match the right talent to the right opportunity in a market that is anything but static.
As part of the overhaul, several long-serving executives have been elevated to chief sales officer roles across regions and content clusters. Sanjoy Chatterjee will head the east market, while Gunjarav Nayak takes charge of the west along with high-margin verticals such as hmg, brand works, intellectual properties and digital sales. Rajnish Gupta will oversee bengaluru and chennai markets alongside the kannada and tamil clusters.
In other key moves, Divjyot Dhanda will lead hyderabad and kochi markets and manage zee tv, zee keralam and the telugu cluster. Roshan Vasu Kotian will supervise a diverse portfolio including Zee Marathi, &tv, Zee Punjabi, Zee Anmol, Big Magic and Zee Biskope.
The company is also strengthening its bench, appointing national sales heads across retail, regional clusters, digital and brand solutions. Ankur Kapila’s appointment to lead digital sales signals a sharper push into a segment that continues to outpace traditional formats.
Behind the scenes, dedicated strategy and operations roles have been carved out for both linear and digital businesses. Nitin Shetty, Rajkiran Shrivastav and Priya Nambiar will take on key responsibilities to ensure the new structure runs with precision.
The broader aim is clear. ZEEL wants a bigger slice of advertising budgets that are steadily drifting towards digital and connected TV ecosystems. By integrating its offerings, the company hopes to deepen client relationships while unlocking new revenue streams.
The new structure takes effect immediately, with Mehrotra continuing to report to chief executive officer Punit Goenka and steer the company’s advertising revenue strategy. Senior executive Laxmi Shetty will support the transition, with her revised role expected to be announced soon.
In a market where content is everywhere but attention is scarce, ZEEL’s latest move is less about rearranging the org chart and more about staying in the game.
