News Broadcasting
Mike Cronk takes the helm at Paul Shen’s TVU Networks as VP of strategy
MUMBAI: In the intricate chessboard of business, strategy is the ultimate checkmate—a decisive edge that separates winners from the rest.
Whether orchestrating a sports victory, acing exams, or redefining industries, strategy holds the key. And when it comes to the fast-evolving world of media technology, TVU Networks has just made its masterstroke.
The global pioneer in cloud and IP-based live video solutions has announced the appointment of Mike Cronk as its new vice president of strategy.
Known as a visionary with over two decades of media innovation expertise, Cronk is set to drive TVU’s mission to redefine content creation and distribution for media organisations worldwide. With a reputation for crafting winning strategies, his entry promises an exciting era of growth, innovation, and bold moves for TVU Networks.
Cronk brings a wealth of experience from roles such as AWS, head of product for live media services; Core Technologies VP at Grass Valley, and IP Media Solutions (AIMS) founding chairman of the alliance. At TVU Networks, he will focus on scaling its award-winning cloud-based services and driving transformative changes in broadcasting workflows.
TVU Networks CEO, Shen underscored the importance of this appointment, “Mike Cronk joins TVU at a time of unparalleled innovation and momentum for our company. His deep expertise in cloud transformation, media workflows, and product strategy will enable us to continue redefining how broadcasters engage their audiences. With Mike’s leadership, we will further strengthen our position as the trusted partner for media supply chain transformation worldwide, turning our customers’ most ambitious projects into reality.”
Reflecting on his new role, Cronk expressed his excitement for the future, “TVU has been at the forefront of live video production for nearly two decades, forging strong partnerships with media organisations worldwide. This year alone, TVU has enabled groundbreaking cloud-based workflows, from leveraging AI-assisted production during major sports events to powering fully cloud-based workflows for this year’s biggest elections. The opportunity to contribute to such a visionary company at this pivotal moment is truly exciting. Together with our customers, we have the potential to achieve even greater milestones and transform the industry further.”
Since pioneering cloud-based and AI-driven broadcasting workflows in 2018, TVU Networks has developed a modular ecosystem that meets complex production demands with speed and agility. Its latest innovation, TVU MediaHub, has already earned six industry awards and powered high-profile events such as the Games in Paris and recent elections.
“Mike’s vision and expertise align perfectly with TVU Networks’ mission to transform the broadcast industry,” added Shen. “His addition to our leadership team marks an exciting chapter for TVU as we continue to innovate and collaborate with our clients to redefine what’s possible in live media production.”
News Broadcasting
Mihir Bhatt appointed as chief content officer at News18 Studios
The media veteran brings two decades of experience across television, digital and radio to one of India’s biggest broadcast networks, Disney+ Hotstar, Discovery+
NEW DELHI: Network18 has a new strategist in the building. Mihir Bhatt, one of Indian media’s more versatile operators, has joined News18 Studios as chief content officer, stepping into a role that will see him shape content strategy, build multi-platform properties and drive brand partnerships across the network.
Bhatt brings more than two decades of experience spanning television, digital and radio, with a track record of doing something rare in Indian media: combining editorial ambition with hard commercial results. At Times Network, where he served as managing editor and chief business officer of Times Influence, he built one of the industry’s more respected content studios, launching marquee properties such as the India Economic Conclave, the Times Now Summit and Leaders of Tomorrow. He also pushed the network into premium OTT territory through tie-ups with Disney+ Hotstar and Discovery+.
His resume stretches well beyond the studio. Bhatt has led Global Investor Summits for multiple state governments, worked alongside the World Economic Forum and played a pivotal role in launching the Indian Pickleball League. Earlier, as editor of Zee Business, he pioneered investor education initiatives that are still cited as industry benchmarks.
At News18 Studios, Bhatt will report to chief executive S Shivakumar and will oversee the studios execution vertical alongside revenue verticals covering emerging markets and campaigns. Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar and Nimar Sarkaria will work under him.
Rahul Joshi, managing director and editor-in-chief of Network18 Group, made the announcement in an internal communication. “Mihir’s ability to build enduring brands, foster strategic partnerships and navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our position and explore new avenues of growth in the Studios business,” Joshi said.
In a media industry lurching between disruption and reinvention, Network18 has bet on a man who has spent two decades thriving in exactly that chaos. Whether he can do it again, at greater scale, is the question worth watching.
