Sony TV taps Balaji movie CEO to head biz ops

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Sony TV taps Balaji movie CEO to head biz ops

MUMBAI: After the turmoil and the forced exit of many senior executives, Multi Screen Media (formerly Set India) is filling up the positions. The company has tapped Ajit Thakur, the chief executive of Balaji Telefilms' movie business, to take charge of its flagship Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC).

Thakur will join as Sony Entertainment Television business head from 1 July, a source in the company says. Albert Almeida, who was heading the channel, had to quit the organisation amid a clean-up operation in March.

Thakur will have the tough task of reviving Sony TV which has sunk in ratings to lag way behind rivals Star Plus, Colors and Zee TV in the Hindi GEC space. Sony, in fact, will have to contend with a steadily progressing NDTV Imagine for the fourth spot.

Sony got Gurdip Bhangoo from BBC Asian Network to head the channel's programming and overhauled its prime time on 25 May. The channel is set to launch British broadcaster ITV's popular celebrity reality show I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here (Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao) to step up its ratings.