JioStar appoints heads for Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada ops

JioStar, formed through a joint venture between Reliance Industries Limited, Viacom18 Media, and The Walt Disney Company, has announced key leadership appointments as part of its reorganization. The venture, valued at approximately ₹70,352 crore (US$8.5 billion), combines media assets from JioCinema, Star India, and Viacom18, creating a powerhouse with 100 TV channels, over 30,000 hours of annual programming, and a digital subscriber base exceeding 50 million. Reliance holds a 56% majority stake in the entity, supported by a ₹11,500 crore (US$1.4 billion) investment.

Key Appointments

Raghava Vaidyula: Appointed to lead JioStar's Telugu operations across platforms, Vaidyula brings over 25 years of experience in the broadcast industry. He has held leadership roles at MAA (a division of Star India), including Senior Vice President of Programming and Business Head. His career began at Gemini TV, where he worked for over 11 years.

Kishan Kumar: Tasked with overseeing JioStar's Malayalam business, Kumar is a MICA graduate with two decades of expertise in media strategy, business development, and talent management. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Channel Business Asianet for Disney Star and played a key role in establishing Maxus as South India’s largest media agency.

Sushma Rajesh: Appointed to head JioStar's Kannada business, Rajesh has extensive broadcast industry experience. She has served as Cluster Head for Kannada and Marathi at Viacom18 and as SVP & Business Head-Kannada at The Walt Disney Company. Her career highlights include leadership roles at Star India, contributing to the growth of channels like Star Plus and Star Jalsha.

Strategic Vision

The new leadership team aims to harness the joint venture’s extensive resources to drive innovation, deliver engaging content, and expand JioStar’s reach across regional and digital platforms, reinforcing its position as a leading media giant in India.