JioStar, the joint venture formed between Reliance Industries Limited, Viacom18 Media, and The Walt Disney Company, has announced a series of leadership appointments as part of its strategic reorganization. The newly formed entity, which combines the media assets of JioCinema, Star India, and Viacom18, is set to become a formidable player in the Indian broadcast landscape, with a portfolio that spans 100 TV channels, including a significant presence in regional language markets.
The South Stars of JioStar:
The South Indian market, encompassing Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, is of particular importance to JioStar, given the large viewership and cultural influence of these regions. As part of the restructuring, the company has appointed senior executives to oversee operations in these key regional markets. These leaders bring decades of industry experience and a deep understanding of local content and audience preferences.
Balachandran Ratnavel (Bala) – Head of Tamil Business Operations
Bala has been appointed to lead JioStar’s Tamil-language business, including both TV and digital media assets. With nearly 18 years of experience at Star Vijay, Bala has been instrumental in the channel’s growth, serving as Deputy Business Head from 2004 to 2021 before being promoted to Business Head of the Tamil Cluster. His leadership will be key to driving JioStar’s Tamil content strategy and expanding its reach in the region.
Raghava Vaidyula – Head of Telugu Business Operations
Raghava Vaidyula brings over 25 years of experience to the role of overseeing JioStar’s Telugu-language operations. Vaidyula has more than two decades of experience in Telugu Television Media, including 15 years of stint with Star Maa, where he served as Fiction Head, Senior Vice President of Programming and Business Head. With played a long tenure of stint with Gemini TV. Vaidyula is well-positioned to lead the Telugu cluster and drive the brand’s growth in the region.
Kishan Kumar – Head of Malayalam Business Operations
Kishan Kumar, a MICA graduate with two decades of expertise in media strategy and business development, will now oversee JioStar’s Malayalam-language business. Kumar previously served as Executive Director of Channel Business at Asianet (Disney Star), where he played a pivotal role in the brand’s strategic initiatives. Before joining Disney Star India, Kishan played long stint with media agencies Wavemaker and Maxus Global. His deep understanding of Malayalam media and talent management will be crucial as JioStar seeks to expand its presence in the Malayalam-speaking market.
Sushma Rajesh – Head of Kannada Business Operations
Sushma Rajesh, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the broadcast industry, has been appointed to lead JioStar’s Kannada-language business. Rajesh has previously held leadership roles at Viacom18 and The Walt Disney Company, including Cluster Head for Kannada and Marathi channels and SVP & Business Head for Kannada. Her experience with both Viacom18 and Star India will be invaluable as JioStar works to strengthen its Kannada offerings.
In addition to the regional heads, two key appointments will further bolster JioStar’s growth strategy in the South Indian market:
- Himabindu Chitta will be responsible for driving digital growth across the South Indian markets, ensuring JioStar’s content reaches audiences across both traditional TV and digital platforms.
- Prachi Mohapatra will oversee business planning for the cluster, contributing to long-term strategic goals and the optimization of operational efficiencies.
All of these leaders will report to Krishnan Kutty, Head of the South Regional Entertainment Business, who will be responsible for overseeing the overall operations and growth of the South Indian regional cluster.
