Sports
Naveen Kapoor takes charge as editor of NDTV World
Seasoned newsroom leader set to sharpen channel’s global edge and deepen editorial depth
MUMBAI: NDTV has brought in seasoned journalist Naveen Kapoor as editor of NDTV World, signalling a confident stride in its bid to widen its international gaze and sharpen its global storytelling.
With more than 25 years in the newsroom trenches, Kapoor is no stranger to building news brands from the ground up. He has been part of the leadership backbone at Times Now, Wion and Press Trust of India, helping shape platforms that now command strong positions in their respective segments.
Welcoming the appointment, CEO and editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal, said Kapoor’s experience in running complex global newsrooms and scaling editorial operations makes him a natural fit as NDTV World strengthens its international focus.
Before this move, Kapoor served as founding editor of PTI’s video services, where he built a modern television and digital news agency from scratch. From editorial frameworks and newsroom systems to domestic and overseas bureaus, he laid the groundwork for a platform aligned with global standards. Earlier, as head of newsroom at Wion, he helped transform India’s first global news channel into a credible international voice covering geopolitics and world affairs with authority. His stint as senior vice president and chief of news operations at Times Now saw him contribute to the channel’s early editorial and operational architecture during its rise to prominence.
Across assignments, Kapoor has led coverage of defining national and international events, built high-performing teams and championed journalism that balances speed with substance.
An English graduate from Delhi University, Kapoor also holds a diploma in journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He completed a television journalism course with the Reuters Foundation and trained in broadcast journalism in the United States under the International Visitor Leadership Program.
In his new role, Kapoor will steer the editorial direction of NDTV World, with a clear brief: think globally, report credibly and keep journalism firmly at the centre of the conversation.
Sports
IPL 19 TV Ad Volumes Rise 10 per cent Despite Fewer Brands
Google storms top spot as e-com services and mouth fresheners lead charge in four-match clash with IPL 18.
MUMBAI: Google has bowled a perfect googly in the IPL 19 ad arena while the batsmen chased sixes on the field, the search giant has quietly smashed the biggest boundary of all, claiming 12.67 per cent of commercial airtime and leaving rivals gasping. Overall television ad volumes for the four live matches of IPL 19 hit an indexed 109.94 compared with IPL 18’s baseline of 100, a crisp 9.94 per cent jump that proves advertisers still see cricket’s biggest stage as the ultimate pitch. Yet the numbers tell a more nuanced tale. Categories slimmed from 47 to 40 (a 14.9 per cent drop) and advertisers shrank from 58 to 43 (down 25.9 per cent), suggesting a leaner, meaner battle where the survivors are spending smarter.
The new pecking order makes for fascinating reading. In IPL 19, Ecom-Other Services surged to the summit with 13.78 per cent share, nudging out perennial favourite Mouth Fresheners (13.57 per cent). Air Conditioners (5.94 per cent), Corporate-Financial Institutes (5.69 per cent) and Paints (5.23 per cent) rounded out the top five, elbowing aside last season’s heavy hitters. Back in IPL 18, Mouth Fresheners led at 10.73 per cent, followed by Ecom-Gaming (10.62 per cent), Cellular Phones-Smart Phones (7.83 per cent), Biscuits (7.66 per cent) and Cars (6.60 per cent).
On the advertiser leaderboard, Google’s 12.67 per cent dominance is unassailable. Reliance Consumer Products (7.28 per cent) took silver, Havells India (5.94 per cent) bronze, while Vishnu Packaging (5.56 per cent) and K P Pan Foods (4.80 per cent) completed the top five. Contrast that with IPL 18, where Parle Biscuits (7.66 per cent) topped the chart, followed by Vishnu Packaging (5.92 per cent), Apple Computer India (5.52 per cent), Reliance Consumer Products (5.31 per cent) and Billion Brains Garage Ventures (4.52 per cent).
Fresh blood has clearly refreshed the mix. Nine entirely new categories and a whopping 45 new brands entered the fray. Among the debutants making an instant splash: Chocolates, Laptops/Notebooks, Range of Hair Care, Corporate-Pharma/Healthcare and Footwear. Stand-out new brands include Google Search Engine, Google Gemini, Lloyd Designer AC, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate, Hero Splendor Plus Range and Joy Hello Sun Sunblock Anti-Tan Lotion, proof that even the most unexpected players are now eyeing cricket’s captive millions.
Conversely, 16 categories sat out IPL 19, including former stalwarts Ecom-Gaming, Cellular Phones-Smart Phones, Biscuits, Airlines and Fans. The message is clear: the ad economy is evolving faster than a T20 run-chase.
So while the on-field drama delivers its usual thrills, the commercial breaks are delivering something even more compelling, a masterclass in how to turn 22 yards of grass into serious brand territory. IPL 19 has shown that when the right mix of innovation and investment meets cricket fever, the ad scoreboard lights up in ways even the most optimistic analysts might not have predicted.
