News Broadcasting
MTV announces new network group structure
NEW YORK: MTV Networks chairman and CEO Tom Freston, has announced a new network group structure for the company. The new structure expands the roles of both Judy McGrath and Herb Scannell, longtime leaders within MTV Networks.
McGrath, formerly MTV Networks Music Group president will now become MTV Networks group president. She will be responsible for MTV, MTV2, VH1, CMT and Comedy Central, which officially joined Viacom and MTV Networks on 22 May. Comedy Central’s president Larry Divney will report directly to McGrath. The former Nickelodeon, TV Land, and TNN president, Scannell, will become MTV Networks Group president. He will be responsible for Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, TV Land, Noggin and TNN. TNN will soon be knwon as Spike TV.
Freston said, “This structure places two of our best, most experienced, and most successful leaders in expanded roles that position us perfectly as we continue to expand as a company. Judy’s accomplishments over the years speak for themselves. She has an unmatched creative vision and a proven ability to build, strengthen and transform powerful brands and I am thrilled to have her take on this added role and new challenge.
Herb is a remarkably talented creative executive who has brilliantly led the channels under his leadership from one success to another, dramatically growing their businesses along the way. His skills will serve us well as we launch Spike TV and aggressively grow that brand as the first network for men.”
In their new roles McGrath and Scannell will oversee the
management of their respective networks. An official release informs that in addition, they will now together with Freston, MTV Networks President and COO Mark Rosenthal, MTV Networks International President Bill Roedy be part of a newly established MTV Networks Management Committee that will play the lead role in the management of the company.
News Broadcasting
India Today Group debuts AI anchor ‘Sutra’ at AI Impact Summit 2026
Sutra aims to simplify live policy debates using sovereign AI models
NEW DELHI: India Today Group has unveiled Sutra, an AI-driven news anchor designed to deliver real-time, contextual reporting, marking the group’s latest push to integrate artificial intelligence into mainstream journalism.
The AI anchor was introduced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi and developed in collaboration with BharatGen, with the initiative showcased by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
India Today Group said Sutra is built to navigate complex policy discussions and fast-moving developments by synthesising information into concise, accessible insights, aimed at narrowing the gap between high-level debates and public understanding. The AI anchor was used to surface live takeaways from key sessions at the summit.
India Today Group chief AI officer Nilanjan Das, said the project was focused on clarity and accessibility without diluting editorial rigour. He added that working with BharatGen aligned the group’s AI ambitions with India’s broader push towards sovereign technology capabilities.
BharatGen CEO Rishi Bal, said the partnership reflected a shift from basic automation towards deeper contextual intelligence in media. He emphasised the importance of indigenous, multimodal AI models capable of understanding Indian languages, regional dialects and cultural nuance, particularly as AI-driven news formats gain traction.
The launch positions India Today Group among the first major Indian media houses to deploy an AI anchor backed by home-grown technology, underscoring a growing convergence between journalism, public policy and sovereign AI infrastructure.
