MUMBAI: The Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) marked a significant milestone with its 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 20, 2024, in New Delhi. The AGM was chaired by India TV chairman Rajat Sharma and vice president of IBDF, the meeting followed the recent resignation of K. Madhavan as president. The gathering served as an opportunity to reflect on the foundation’s evolution and future direction in the broadcasting sector.
Key appointments to the IBDF board:
During the AGM, the following appointments to the IBDF Board were announced:
1. Gaurav Dwivedi, Prasar Bharati
2. Jayant M. Mathew, MMTV
3. Aroon Purie, TV Today
The other board members include:
1. Rajat Sharma, India TV
2. I. Venkat, Eenadu TV
3. Kevin Vaz, JioStar
4. R. Mahesh Kumar, Sun Network
5. Gaurav Banerjee, Culver Max
6. Nachiket Pantvaidya, Bangla Entertainment
7. Punit Goenka, Zee Media
8. Ashish Sehgal, Zee Entertainment
Rajat Sharma reflected upon IBDF’s 25-year journey, emphasizing the Foundation's role in shaping the Indian broadcasting landscape. He said "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."
Sharma also expressed gratitude to the outgoing President, K. Madhavan, for his visionary leadership, which had been instrumental in navigating the organization through pivotal times.
Board meeting and election of office bearers:
Following the AGM, a meeting of the IBDF board of directors was convened, during which the following members were co-opted to the Board:
1. Sumanto Bose, JioStar
2. John Brittas, Kairali TV
The board also elected the new office bearers of IBDF:
1. President: Kevin Vaz
2. Vice Presidents: Rajat Sharma, Gaurav Banerjee & R. Mahesh Kumar
3. Treasurer: I. Venkat
The newly elected president, Kevin Vaz, remarked, “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.”
He further emphasised that “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.”
Vaz urged all IBDF members to collaborate in building a vibrant, innovative, and sustainable ecosystem that captivates audiences and propels the growth of India's media and entertainment industry.
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