NDTV Ltd. and STAR India has announced an airtime sales alliance between the companies under which STAR will 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 will also be responsible for commercial back-office management like traffic, scheduling, billing and collections.
Commenting on this development, Uday Shankar, chief executive officer, STAR India, said, “We are delighted with this tie-up with NDTV, which is one of the greatest media brands in the country. The combination of the NDTV news brand and STAR’s leadership should be able to unlock significant value for NDTV. The presence of NDTV news shall strengthen STAR’s sales bouquet and enable STAR to offer a comprehensive option to advertisers and agencies.”
Dr Prannoy Roy, chairman, NDTV said, “NDTV is very pleased to announce this close and important relationship with STAR. STAR, India's leading and most successful television network, has been a trusted partner in the past and NDTV looks forward to this new initiative which we are certain will be of mutual benefit. In many ways it's a perfect fit."
A media statement from the company stated that the companies will work together to ensure a smooth transition of these functions to STAR India and jointly collaborate towards achieving best-in-class monetization of India’s leading news network.