Scripps Targets Indian Expansion with New Appointment

NEW YORK: Sunil Shahani, previously with leading Indian production firm Balaji Telefilms, is joining Scripps Networks International to drive the company’s entry into the Indian television market.

The appointment comes two months after Scripps and NDTV called off their Indian JV deal. The agreement would have seen Scripps taking a 69-percent stake in NDTV Lifestyle, which operates the Good Times channel. The joint venture aimed to operate a portfolio of lifestyle channels in India.

Shahani, as head of new business development for India, will report to Greg Moyer the president of Scripps Networks International. He was most recently CFO at Balaji, a leading producer of Indian soaps. Previous stints include Disney and MTV Networks in India. “Sunil brings extraordinary local knowledge of the Indian television scene to our company," said Moyer. "His experience will be invaluable as Scripps Networks International weighs opportunities to bring its lifestyle channels to this dynamic and expanding market. Working with our global new business development team, Sunil will help set our Asian strategy with specific focus on the Indian market and then help us make it happen.”

Scripps recently debuted Food Network in the region, inking a carriage deal with StarHub in Singapore.