News Broadcasting
Network18 is shifting gears: Can it become India’s first media-tech conglomerate?
Mumbai: As the media landscape across the globe stares at uncertainties that come with disruptive technologies such as generative AI and ChatGPT, India’s Network18 group, that runs a clutch of news channels, digital platforms among others, is seeking to utilise the opportunity to transform itself into a media-tech conglomerate.
The group is now turning over a new leaf. Some of its tech focused digital first products such as Moneycontrol and Firstpost are already breaking the mould.
Network18 now wants to replicate the same for its other platforms such as CNBCTV18 and News18 channels.
In the last few months, the group has made significant progress in unifying its digital and broadcast teams across editorial, business and operations.
As part of this process, the group’s broadcast and digital news operations are being converged, keeping technology at the core of it. From story planning to content consumption on any and every device, the company’s goal is to deliver a top-class experience and conceptualise solutions that will enrich the story-telling experience, paint a picture of audiences in granular detail and help customers to attain maximum value.
Hiring Diverse Talent
With some recent appointments, Network18 has marked a departure from regular practices of recruiting talent from the same Industry. The company is building its tech strength by roping in resources from diverse sectors such as big tech, startups etc.
A few months ago, it hired 5paisa Capital’s Ankit Fitkariwala to add new dimensions to Moneycontrol, one of the leading finance platforms globally both in terms of subscribers and users.
Last week, Network18 announced the appointment of Sunil Sharma as chief product & technology officer.
In this new role, Sharma will lead the group’s digital technology initiatives, including tech architecture, content, data and monetisation management tools, software and product engineering for all general and business news brands under the group’s umbrella.
He will focus on disruptive technologies such as generative AI to improve processes, develop audiences, localise stories and distribute content efficiently.
Sharma brings with him over two decades of ‘Big Tech’ experience in software product development across sectors such as telecom, retail, media streaming and EdTech businesses. Prior to joining Network18, Sharma was vice president of Engineering at Byju’s, where he spearheaded customer experience and customer support technology initiatives. Before that, he served at Amazon for over seven years, making notable contributions in retail, logistics, and Prime Video.
“Everything we do, every step we take should push the company towards a tech and product-driven play. We don’t have to leapfrog just the competition but also extend and enhance the news category with digital led technology and product play. Hiring of diverse talent is a step in this direction. We have a much more diversified talent pool than any other media company and we’ll continue to invest and build on this,” said a top executive at Network18.
News Broadcasting
WITT Summit 2026 concludes in New Delhi
Babar Azam’s comical diving attempt goes viral as league introduces anti-dew measures.
MUMBAI: The WITT Summit just wrapped up with enough big ideas to fill a policy playbook because when India’s leaders, thinkers and icons gather under one roof, even the conversations hit sixes. The eighth edition of TV9 Network’s flagship What India Thinks Today (WITT) Summit 2026 concluded on Saturday after two days of dynamic discussions at its New Delhi venue. India’s largest multi-domain public policy and culture summit brought together political leaders, policymakers, sports icons, artists and technology innovators to examine the forces shaping contemporary India and its global standing.
Prime minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address on the theme “India and the World” for the third consecutive year. In a wide-ranging speech, he addressed the ongoing conflict in West Asia, calling for restraint and compassion while highlighting India’s continued development trajectory despite global turmoil.
The summit featured candid conversations with state leaders. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy articulated a people-first governance model and contrasted it with other development approaches. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav declared that Left-wing extremism had been effectively eliminated in his state and highlighted preparations for the upcoming Kumbh Mela. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended his government’s record, citing the closure of 19 toll plazas and creation of the Sadak Suraksha Force. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed confidence in Congress prospects in Assam and addressed recent allegations against him.
On geopolitics and national security, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined India’s ambition to become a builder of trusted digital infrastructure for the world, citing the rapid 5G rollout and village-level 4G connectivity.
Cricket received significant attention. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly praised player freedom and trust as hallmarks of great leadership and named MS Dhoni as the greatest captain due to his World Cup successes. India women’s team bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi credited the BCCI and Women’s Premier League for building a pipeline of world-class talent behind the team’s recent ODI World Cup triumph.
The summit also hosted the inaugural AI² Awards 2026, celebrating the convergence of human creativity and machine intelligence in storytelling and content creation. Poet and kathavachak Kumar Vishwas delivered a nuanced take on India’s concept of Dharma and criticised the recent arrest of an 80-year-old Shankaracharya. Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan and storyteller Neelesh Misra reflected on changing music trends and artistic responsibility in the wake of a recent controversy involving Nora Fatehi.
In a country where conversations often run as deep as the Ganges, the WITT Summit proved once again that when leaders, thinkers and storytellers come together, the real winner is public discourse lively, layered and refreshingly unafraid to tackle the big questions shaping India’s tomorrow.
