STAR India makes changes in top management

STAR India has reshuffled its top management. The change has been initiated for its flagship Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC) STAR Plus and its bouquet of English channels, including STAR World, STAR Movies, National Geographic Channel and Fox History and Entertainment.

Keertan Adyanthaya, executive vice-president and general manager, STAR Plus will now be responsible for the English channels of STAR India. In turn, Sanjay Gupta, chief operating officer, STAR India will take over Adyanthaya's responsibilities and will oversee the matters at STAR Plus.

Sources close to the development reveal that the move (to have Gupta handle STAR Plus) is a short one as the channel is already on the lookout for someone to spearhead the GEC. Interestingly, Gupta joined STAR India in April this year from telecom major Airtel.

It is also learnt that the changes have come about with an aim to put back STAR Plus in a winning position after its not so encouraging performance in the past few weeks. It is facing stiff competition in the GEC war, especially on account of the performance of rival GEC, Colors.

As per the latest TAM data in Week 44, Colors appears to be consolidating its No.1 position with 340 GRPs and a market share of 24 per cent in the Hindi GEC pie (C&S, 4+, HSM). STAR Plus and Zee TV are next in line with 243 and 234 GRPs respectively, garnering relative shares of 17 per cent each.