NDTV and Star India have taken a strategic decision to transition the sales and marketing function back to NDTV.
In 2011, the two companies had announced an airtime sales alliance under which Star was to be the sole and exclusive representative of NDTV to conduct advertising sales for all its news channels - NDTV 24x7, NDTV India and NDTV Profit. In addition to frontline sales, Star India was also responsible for commercial back office management like traffic, scheduling, billing and collections.
According to the companies, a strong connection with Star will remain including strategic coordination on cross platform sales and marketing. The current Star sales team that was working on the NDTV channels will be transferred to NDTV.
Commenting on the new arrangement, Prannoy Roy, executive co-chairperson, NDTV, said, "Working together with Star has been a great experience. We have developed a close professional relationship and plan to retain close ties at a strategic level."
"Star and NDTV and Uday Shankar and Prannoy Roy's relationship is a deep one. It was always meant to be a short term arrangement to enable NDTV to effect a transition. Now that the team is ready and NDTV wishes to take charge of its own destiny, we are happy to pass on the baton and wish this great brand success," said Uday Shankar, chief executive officer, Star India.
