Television
Zee Entertainment appoints Vivek Bhatia as National Sales Head for Tamil Cluster
Veteran media professional returns to lead revenue strategy in southern markets.
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment just handed the Tamil Cluster a fresh voice because when you need to amplify sales in the south, sometimes the best move is to bring back someone who already knows the rhythm. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) has appointed Vivek Bhatia as national sales head for its tamil cluster. Based in Noida, Bhatia will spearhead revenue operations, strengthen advertiser and agency partnerships, and drive market expansion in one of India’s most vibrant regional language markets.
Bhatia is a seasoned media professional with over a decade of association with Zeel, having joined the network in 2013. He has played a key role in building client relationships and expanding the network’s footprint across competitive regional landscapes, having previously handled Niche, Telugu, Kannada and HGEC genres before taking charge of Tamil.
Prior to Zeel, he began his career in media sales at Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. (The Times of India), where he served as regional head and gained valuable experience in advertiser solutions and market development.
The appointment comes as Zeel sharpens its regional sales strategy and looks to capitalise on the growing advertiser interest in high-impact regional language content.
In an industry where regional markets are no longer side stages but headline acts, Zee has wisely brought back a familiar face who knows the beats ensuring the Tamil Cluster doesn’t just play the music, but conducts the entire orchestra.
News Broadcasting
Mihir Bhatt appointed as chief content officer at News18 Studios
The media veteran brings two decades of experience across television, digital and radio to one of India’s biggest broadcast networks, Disney+ Hotstar, Discovery+
NEW DELHI: Network18 has a new strategist in the building. Mihir Bhatt, one of Indian media’s more versatile operators, has joined News18 Studios as chief content officer, stepping into a role that will see him shape content strategy, build multi-platform properties and drive brand partnerships across the network.
Bhatt brings more than two decades of experience spanning television, digital and radio, with a track record of doing something rare in Indian media: combining editorial ambition with hard commercial results. At Times Network, where he served as managing editor and chief business officer of Times Influence, he built one of the industry’s more respected content studios, launching marquee properties such as the India Economic Conclave, the Times Now Summit and Leaders of Tomorrow. He also pushed the network into premium OTT territory through tie-ups with Disney+ Hotstar and Discovery+.
His resume stretches well beyond the studio. Bhatt has led Global Investor Summits for multiple state governments, worked alongside the World Economic Forum and played a pivotal role in launching the Indian Pickleball League. Earlier, as editor of Zee Business, he pioneered investor education initiatives that are still cited as industry benchmarks.
At News18 Studios, Bhatt will report to chief executive S Shivakumar and will oversee the studios execution vertical alongside revenue verticals covering emerging markets and campaigns. Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar and Nimar Sarkaria will work under him.
Rahul Joshi, managing director and editor-in-chief of Network18 Group, made the announcement in an internal communication. “Mihir’s ability to build enduring brands, foster strategic partnerships and navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our position and explore new avenues of growth in the Studios business,” Joshi said.
In a media industry lurching between disruption and reinvention, Network18 has bet on a man who has spent two decades thriving in exactly that chaos. Whether he can do it again, at greater scale, is the question worth watching.
