October 1, 2025

Big cheers in the media world! Kevin Vaz, the sharp CEO of JioStar Entertainment, has been re-elected as President of the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) during its grand 26th Annual General Meeting. Alongside him, stars like Rajat Sharma from India TV, Gaurav Banerjee from Sony Pictures, and R. Mahesh Kumar of Sun Network took the spotlight as Vice Presidents. Kevin Vaz, in his first speech as President, said something exciting and firm: “Television remains the bedrock of content creation and brand building in India.” Can you believe it? A whopping 97% of India’s original shows, nearly 200,000 hours in 2024, are made for television. That’s massive! These shows are watched for an eye-popping 46 trillion minutes each year on 190 million screens across the country. Talk about a TV explosion! But Vaz’s magic doesn’t stop there. He pointed out that with festive seasons kicking in and GST reforms in place, we can expect a big jump in advertising. He sees TV’s future as a thrilling mix: combining its huge scale and trusted appeal with the power of digital reach. This means TV won’t just survive; it will soar into new heights alongside digital platforms. IBDF also welcomed a new key player. Media veteran Avinash Pandey is the new Secretary General from October 1, stepping in for Siddharth Jain. Pandey promises to focus on making IBDF’s voice louder and stronger when talking with the government, pushing for policies that support the industry’s steady growth. The meeting brought fresh energy with directors like Anil Kumar Singhvi from Zee Media joining the board, while some familiar faces such as Gaurav Banerjee and R. Mahesh Kumar continue their roles. The board is packed with big names from top media giants like TV Today, Prasar Bharati, and Zee Entertainment. Adding to the glamour was the presence of top government officials—Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Additional Secretary Prabhat—who joined the broadcasters for a lively lunch hosted by IBDF. It was a perfect mix of media stars and policy makers coming together. In this grand event, one clear message shines bright: Television is not just surviving the digital wave; with strong leadership and smart strategies, it is ready to lead the future of Indian entertainment!

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Tags: Indian broadcasting & digital foundation, Kevin vaz, Television content, Ibdf leadership, Digital media, Advertising revival,