News Broadcasting
Star appoints Michelle Guthrie as CEO
MUMBAI: Star Group announced a new CEO this morning: Michelle Guthrie who was earlier executive vice president of Regional Distribution and Business Development for Star. She will be stepping into the shoes of chairman and CEO James Murdoch who was recently appointed to head BSkyB in the UK.
Guthrie is believed to have a great understanding of the pay TV business. Her key responsibility earlier was to identify and explore business opportunities for the company. She also oversees the distribution of Star channels for the South East Asia region.
Announcing her appointment, News Corp’s chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch was quoted in a company release as saying, “Michelle is one of a handful of people in Asia with over a decade of truly in-depth pay television experience. With her business acumen, sharp sense for new opportunities, her strong ability to run diverse operations and enthusiasm for the TV business, I am confident that she will take Star’s business to the next level of growth and profitability.”
Outgoing chairman and CEO of Star James Murdoch also said,”I have every confidence that Michelle will be a dynamic and energetic leader for Star. I wish Michelle and all my former colleagues the utmost success.”
Guthrie joined Star in June 2000. Prior to that, she was Director of Legal and Business Affairs at Foxtel, Australia’s leading subscription television provider, which is 25 percent owned by News Corp. She had responsibility of all legal and business development functions of Foxtel.
Before Foxtel, Guthrie was corporate counsel in London for News International and British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB), the premier digital satellite television service in the UK and 36 per cent owned by News Corp.
Guthrie joined News Corp in 1994 from Allen, Allen and Hemsley, an Australia law firm. She worked as a lawyer in both the Sydney and Singapore offices of Allens.
She takes up her assignment at a time when Star’s India operations are extremely profitable and China is beginning to show profitability. Her challenge will be to drive the company further into these markets and steer it into DTH, and pure pay TV plays with higher subscription revenues.
Talking about her post, Guthrie said, “I am very excited to be given this opportunity to steer the company to its next phase of growth. Over the last three and a half years, I have had the chance to work closely with James and all my colleagues as Star strengthened its position as the industry leader. I am looking forward to continue working with such a strong team.”
Insiders aver that Star TV’s first woman CEO may more than prove to be up to the task.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
