New Delhi: Rahul Joshi, in an internal communication, announced the appointment of Mihir Bhatt as the Chief Content Officer for News18 Studios, marking a significant leadership addition to the network’s content and revenue strategy.
Bhatt brings over two decades of experience spanning television, digital, and radio, with a track record of blending editorial excellence with business innovation. His appointment is expected to strengthen Network18’s Studios business as it continues to expand its content and monetisation capabilities.
Prior to joining Network18, Bhatt served as Managing Editor at Times Network and Chief Business Officer of Times Influence. During his tenure, he was instrumental in building a highly regarded content studio and spearheaded flagship intellectual properties such as the India Economic Conclave, Times Now Summit, and Leaders of Tomorrow.
He also played a key role in driving the network’s expansion into premium OTT content through collaborations with platforms like Disney+ Hotstar and Discovery+.
Bhatt’s experience extends into large-scale strategic initiatives and partnerships. He has led Global Investor Summits for multiple state governments and worked closely with global organisations such as the World Economic Forum. Additionally, he was part of the core management team that drove his previous organisation’s entry into the sports ecosystem, including the launch of the Indian Pickleball League.
Earlier in his career, Bhatt served as Editor of Zee Business, where he pioneered investor education initiatives that continue to serve as industry benchmarks.
In his new role, Bhatt will report to S Shivakumar and will lead the Studios execution vertical along with revenue streams across emerging markets and campaigns. Senior executives including Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar, and Nimar Sarkaria will report into him going forward.
The appointment underscores Network18’s focus on strengthening its studios business by integrating high-impact storytelling with scalable revenue models, as competition intensifies across broadcast, digital, and OTT platforms.
