Akil Ahmed

NDTV

From a pure-news focused player, NDTV is metamorphosing into a diversified global media player and intends to consistently break new ground. NDTV's tryst with television began way back in 1988, when it produced a news and current affairs show ‘The World This Week' for the Government-owned broadcaster Doordarshan. The show proved to be immensely popular, and NDTV established its image as a credible private news producer. It moved on to become the sole news content provider and producer for India's first 24-hour news channel, Star News. The company's biggest milestone was established in 2003, when it launched two 24-hour news channels— NDTV 24x7 in English and NDTV India in Hindi—followed by a 24-hour business news channel NDTV Profit in 2005, which became a leading business news channel in a short period of time. In 2007, the company broke new ground, formulating a strategy to build a global business. NDTV Networks Plc, a subsidiary of NDTV was formed to seize opportunities in areas ‘beyond news'. The Company launched NDTV Imagine (for general entertainment), NDTV Good Times under NDTV Lifestyle Company (for lifestyle content), NDTV Convergence (triple play; to exploit the synergies between television, internet and mobile), NDTV Labs (to develop media software and technology for captive use), NGEN Media Services (outsourcing of media post-production services) as 50:50 joint venture with Genpact and Emerging Markets BV that has helped launch channels in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Middle East.