New Delhi: At the 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) held in New Delhi on December 20, 2024, Kevin Vaz, of JioStar, was elected as the new President. Alongside him, India TV’s Rajat Sharma, Culver Max’s Gaurav Banerjee, and Sun Network’s R. Mahesh Kumar were appointed as Vice Presidents.
The AGM also saw the announcement of several new appointments to the IBDF Board, including Prasar Bharati’s Gaurav Dwivedi, MMTV’s Jayant M. Mathew, and TV Today’s Aroon Purie.
Rajat Sharma, who chaired the meeting, reflected on the Foundation’s transformative journey over the past 25 years and the role it has played in shaping India’s broadcasting landscape.
Other Board Members Include
- Rajat Sharma, India TV
- I. Venkat, Eenadu TV
- Kevin Vaz, JioStar
- R. Mahesh Kumar, Sun Network
- Gaurav Banerjee, Culver Max
- Nachiket Pantvaidya, Bangla Entertainment
- Punit Goenka, Zee Media
- Ashish Sehgal, Zee Entertainment
Board Meeting and Election of New Office Bearers
Post AGM, the IBDF Board convened and co-opted new members:
- Sumanto Bose, JioStar
- John Brittas, Kairali TV
The Board elected new office bearers:
- President: Kevin Vaz
- Vice Presidents: Rajat Sharma, Gaurav Banerjee, R. Mahesh Kumar
- Treasurer: I. Venkat
Addressing the members, Rajat Sharma highlighted the organization’s pivotal role in transforming India’s broadcasting landscape. “This milestone highlights the steadfast contributions of our members in transforming the broadcasting industry. As we move forward, IBDF will continue advocating for a regulatory framework that fosters innovation, supports creators, and ensures fair competition. Together, we will drive the industry toward a sustainable and prosperous future,” he stated.
Sharma also commended the outgoing President, K. Madhavan, for his visionary leadership during a transformative period for the organization.
In his first address as President, Kevin Vaz emphasized the opportunities and responsibilities ahead for the industry. He said, “It is an honour to take on this responsibility at such a transformative time for the media and entertainment sector. India’s appetite for content is unmatched, making it a unique market where all forms of media continue to grow, while Indian content increasingly gains international recognition furthering India’s soft power globally. As we increasingly embrace technology to scale up, it is imperative that we democratize content creation so that it is not demographically or geographically limited. While India consumes content from anywhere, driven by the proliferation of 5G, smartphones, connected TVs and better Pay TV infrastructure, we must ensure that opportunities to create professional content from locations beyond the current hotspots is a viable future for the industry.”
Vaz highlighted the importance of democratizing content creation, leveraging technological advancements, and fostering collaborations to drive equitable growth. He added, “the media and entertainment industry has a multiplier effect that extends to sectors like sports, creating significant opportunities for growth at scale. To ensure that this growth can be sustainable we need to look at business models rooted in equitable collaborations that foster value creation for all stakeholders across the ecosystem. I also look forward to work with the government and industry in developing progressive, soft-touch regulations that empower the sector to innovate and harness its full potential for sustainable growth.”
He also reiterated the need for progressive, soft-touch regulations to empower the sector to innovate and achieve sustainable growth.
Vaz urged IBDF members to work collectively toward building an innovative, sustainable ecosystem that captivates audiences and propels India’s media and entertainment industry to new heights.
