The Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) has convened its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in New Delhi, chaired by Kevin Vaz, President of IBDF and CEO- Entertainment of JioStar India. The gathering has brought together industry leaders to assess the sector’s performance and discuss its future roadmap.
The AGM has reaffirmed the central role of linear television in India’s media landscape, noting its continued dominance in content production, household engagement, and advertising outlook. Leaders have also projected an upswing in revenues, supported by the festive season and recent GST reforms.
The meeting saw the re-election of Gaurav Banerjee (Culver Max) and R. Mahesh Kumar (Sun Network) to the Board, along with the election of Anil Kumar Singhvi (Zee Media) as a new member. Office bearers have been re-elected with Vaz as President, Rajat Sharma (India TV), Gaurav Banerjee (Culver Max), and R. Mahesh Kumar (Sun Network) as Vice Presidents, and I. Venkat (Eenadu TV) as Treasurer.
A leadership transition has also been confirmed, with Avinash Pandey set to assume the role of Secretary General effective October 1, 2025, succeeding Siddharth Jain. Members have expressed their gratitude to Jain for his contributions and welcomed Pandey.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, including Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Additional Secretary Prabhat, have also attended the AGM.
In his inaugural address as President, Vaz has said, “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 has further pointed to its unmatched scale, noting, “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, he has 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.”
Accepting his new role, incoming Secretary General Pandey has remarked, “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.”
