Influential Listeners: Uday Shankar

His appointment in 2007 as CEO of the Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star India,Indias largest broadcast network,had raised many eyebrows. A journalist by training,Uday Shankar was then seen as an outsider in the entertainment TV business. Today,he is regarded as one of the most successful CEOs of Star India. Shankar took over Stars reins when the network was going through a challenging phase in India. After ruling the Hindi entertainment genre for eight years,Star Plus had lost the number one spot to the newcomer Colors.

Star Plus regained its numero uno position last year and has been going strong ever since. Shankar was adjudged Impact Person of The Year in 2010 by the industry and has led several initiatives,such as reviving the Broadcast Audience Research Council,a body for television audience measurement mechanism. He was also chosen as the President of Indian Broadcasting Foundation. This year,he signed a deal with staunch rival Zee Network to jointly distribute Star,Zee and other channels of their affiliates and partners.

One of the two interjectors at Express Adda,Shankar seemed

focussed on business questions on India-China,their similarities,

distinctions and potential. Talking about the event,he said,Express Adda unleashed the power of informal conversations. Its a great idea to bring together people who have something important to say. Also,theres an influential group of listeners who have a stake in what is being said. There is no set speech,unlike in structured formal discussions,so the conversation becomes very vibrant.