TV18 forms TV Media Networks; B Saikumar appointed CEO

The TV18 Group is in revamp mode. It has consolidated the creative, sales, marketing and communication divisions of its various channels under one head.

The commercial aspects of the media divisions will collectively come under TV18 Media Networks, a unit that has been created specifically for the purpose. B Saikumar, vice-president, sales and marketing, TV18 Group, has been appointed CEO of TV18 Media Networks.

Haresh Chawla, CEO, TV18 Group, explains the need for the new division, “The TV18 group has been expanding by leaps and bound in the past one and a half years. Such a large network had to be consolidated in one place, so we brought the commercial aspect of the group together.”

The group currently owns four broadcast channels in India, CNBC-TV18, Awaaz, CNN-IBN and IBN-7, the newly acquired Hindi news channel.

Saikumar adds, “This one division will service all transactions, be it online sales or marketing.” He adds, “We will be hiring aggressively in the coming days, especially for our TV news marketing section.”

About the current target of CNBC-TV18, Saikumar says, “The plans to re-launch IBN-7 are taking shape. Besides that, the challenge is to make CNN-IBN a consistent number one in the English news segment.”

Saikumar refuses to divulge details, not wanting to disclose too much to competitors.

© 2006 agencyfaqs!