NDTV and Star TV end sales & marketing deal in India
NDTV and Star India have decided to their sales and marketing deal in India by handing over the operation back to NDTV. The current Star sales team that was working on the NDTV channels will be transferred to NDTV.
It was back in April 2011 that NDTV had signed a deal with Star India under, which Star was managing the ad sales of NDTV 24×7, NDTV India and NDTV Profit.
Prannoy Roy, Executive Co-Chairperson, NDTV Ltd, 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.�
A press statement said, ���Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India, and Kevin Vaz, Star India EVP Ad Sales, have worked very closely with NDTV to build an excellent relationship. That relationship will continue at a strategic level. However, as always planned, NDTV will take its sales and marketing destiny into its own hands and the transition process has already begun. This will ensure close integration with a number of fresh initiatives that NDTV is launching. A strong connection with Star will remain including strategic coordination on cross-platform sales and marketing. Star�۪s sales team is thoroughly professional and undoubtedly the best in the business. The current Star sales team that was working on the NDTV channels will be transferred to NDTV.�
Uday Shankar said, ���Star and NDTV�۪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.�
It may be recalled that before the deal was signed with Star India, Raj Nayak-led Aidem Ventures was handling the ad sales function of NDTV Group. Prior to Aidem, the sales function was handled by a separate entity called NDTV Media with Nayak as CEO. Nayak exited from Aidem when he became the CEO of Hindi entertainment channel Colors.
