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A+E Networks|TV18 appoints Arun Thapar as executive vice president & head -content
MUMBAI: A+E Networks|TV18 has appointed Arun Thapar as Executive Vice President & Head- Content. The announcement was made today by Avinash Kaul, Managing Director, A+E Networks | TV18 and President – Strategy, Product & Alliances – Network18 to whom Arun reports.
Arun is responsible for driving the content strategy, creative and all programming-related objectives for the network: its flagship channel History TV18 and the recently launched FYI TV18.
Avinash Kaul said: “Arun brings with him a rich experience in the factual and lifestyle entertainment space that makes him well suited to strategize content for our channels. He has thorough understanding of the culture and ground realities of content consumption in India as well as the Asia Pacific region, which I believe will go a long way in rendering a great experience to our audiences. We are in a period of transformation of broadcast content and I believe this to be the right time to re-invent and strengthen the offerings to the ever evolving audiences. With the launch of FYI TV18, we now have various niches to explore and together with History TV18, we aim to offer our audiences an unflinching television and digital experience.”
Arun is an industry veteran with over twenty years of vast experience in production and programming across organisations like Discovery and NDTV. He has a proven track record in formulating program strategy to ensure disciplined execution.
People
BBC appoints Matt Brittin as 18th Director-General
Former Google EMEA president to lead broadcaster from May amid global change
LONDON: The BBC has named Matt Brittin as its 18th Director-General, placing a seasoned technology and media leader at the helm of one of the world’s most influential public broadcasters. He will formally assume the role on 18 May.
Brittin steps into the position after a brief “gap year”, as he described it, returning to the spotlight with a job that, in his own words, was “probably not one either you or I were expecting”. The appointment signals a strategic tilt towards digital expertise at a time when traditional broadcasting continues to evolve at pace.
The new Director-General brings more than 18 years of experience from Google, where he held several senior roles, including President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. During his tenure, he played a central role in expanding the company’s footprint across Europe and shaping its regional strategy.
More recently, Brittin served as Senior Independent Director at The Guardian, adding boardroom insight from one of Britain’s leading news organisations. His career also spans roles at McKinsey, Trinity Mirror and Sainsbury’s, giving him a broad perspective across media, retail and strategy.
The Director-General position carries dual responsibility as chief executive officer and editor-in-chief, overseeing the BBC’s creative, editorial and operational direction both in the UK and globally. It is a role that demands not just leadership, but a steady editorial compass in an increasingly complex media landscape.
“Now, more than ever, we need a thriving BBC that works for everyone in a complex, uncertain and fast changing world,” Brittin said. He added that the broadcaster remains “an extraordinary, uniquely British asset” with a legacy of innovation in storytelling and technology.
His appointment comes at a moment when public service broadcasters are under pressure to balance tradition with transformation, navigating shifting audience habits, digital disruption and funding debates. Brittin’s blend of Silicon Valley scale and British media sensibility may prove timely.
With “big challenges and big opportunities” ahead, Brittin appears ready to get started. The real test begins in May, when he moves from anticipation to action at Broadcasting House.
