The Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) held its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in New Delhi on 29 September 2025. The meeting, chaired by IBDF President and CEO – Entertainment of JioStar India Pvt. Ltd., Mr Kevin Vaz, reviewed the sector’s performance and outlined future plans.
In his opening address, Mr Vaz reaffirmed the relevance of Linear Television. “Despite geo-political and economic headwinds, Linear Television’s fundamentals remain strong. It continues to be the bedrock of content creation and brand building in India,” he said.
Citing industry data, Mr Vaz noted, “An overwhelming 97% of India’s original content - nearly 200,000 hours in 2024, was produced for Linear TV. It engages audiences at a scale unmatched by any other medium, with roughly 46 trillion minutes of annual viewing across 190 million screens, outpacing user-generated video. The family co-viewing experience keeps TV at the heart of Indian homes and culture.”
Looking ahead, Mr Vaz added, “We anticipate a significant upswing in advertising revenue, with the festive season providing an immediate boost and recent GST reforms announced by the Government laying a robust foundation for sustained long-term growth, aligned with India's economic trajectory. Television’s next chapter is one of evolution - leveraging its enduring reach and trust, amplified by digital capabilities. Through IBDF, we will continue to advocate for a consistent, forward-looking regulatory regime that reaffirms television’s vital role in the nation’s media fabric.”
Board Elections and Appointments
The AGM confirmed the re-election of Mr Gaurav Banerjee (Culver Max) and Mr R. Mahesh Kumar (Sun Network) to the IBDF Board. Mr Anil Kumar Singhvi (Zee Media) was elected to the Board for the first time.
Following the AGM, the Board re-elected its office bearers for the upcoming term:
- President: Mr Kevin Vaz (JioStar)
- Vice Presidents: Mr Rajat Sharma (India TV), Mr Gaurav Banerjee (Culver Max), and Mr R. Mahesh Kumar (Sun Network)
- Treasurer: Mr I. Venkat (Eenadu TV)
Other Board members include Mr Aroon Purie (TV Today Network), Mr Gaurav Dwivedi (Prasar Bharati), Mr Jayant Mathew (MMTV), and Mr Punit Goenka (Zee Entertainment).
The Board also co-opted Mr Sumanta Bose (JioStar), Mr John Brittas (Kairali TV), and Mr Nachiket Pantvaidya (Culver Max) as members.
A leadership change was also announced. Mr Avinash Pandey will assume the role of Secretary General of IBDF from 1 October 2025, succeeding Mr Siddharth Jain, whose term concludes on 30 September 2025.
Mr Pandey said, “I am honoured to take on this role at such a pivotal time for the industry. I look forward to collaborating with the Board and members to champion the interests of the broadcasting and digital sector. My focus will be on enhancing constructive dialogue with the government, navigating the evolving regulatory landscape, and strengthening the Foundation’s role as a unified voice for growth.”
Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), and Shri Prabhat, Additional Secretary, MIB, attended the event as special guests at a luncheon hosted by IBDF. The gathering offered a platform for discussions between industry representatives and government officials.
