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Ajay Vidyasagar joins Sun TV Network as COO

Vidyasagar was an old hand at STAR, having worked there for 14 years

After taking a sabbatical of around two months, Ajay Vidyasagar is now the chief operating officer at Sun TV Network. Vidyasagar confirmed the development to afaqs!, stating that he has taken over the new role with immediate effect.

Prior to this, he was president, content and new media at STAR India, where he worked for 14 years.

He started his stint with STAR way back in 1996 as part of the Chennai team of the network. He subsequently shifted to Mumbai, where he was part of the company’s marketing team. During his tenure with STAR, he was also the commercial director of Channel V, the network’s music channel.

Ajay Vidyasagar joins Sun TV Network as COO
In 2000, when STAR acquired Vijay TV, a Tamil general entertainment channel, Vidyasagar moved down south as head of the group’s regional business, where he was appointed general manager, regional channels, STAR India.

In 2004, he went back to Mumbai to head the marketing function of STAR India, as executive vice-president. He was later promoted as president, content and new media, his last designation with the group.

It was during his stint that STAR Plus launched the second season of the country’s most popular game show, Kaun Banega Crorepati, after a gap of four years. The same year, STAR also came up with its second GEC, STAR One.

Vidyasagar is known to have used several innovative marketing strategies to promote STAR Network’s channels. Also, during his tenure with the group, he headed the licensing and merchandising functions of STAR. As head of STAR India’s new media function, he was responsible for the overall operations of the network’s Internet business.

Vidyasagar has also dabbled in advertising and was associated with O&M, Bengaluru, where he spent about six years. He left the agency as account director.

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