Media Digital
Resume:
ARUN K ASTHANA
E: ***********@*****.*** M: +91-982**-*****
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arunasthana twitter: @arunasthana 2486, Betina, Mahagun Moderne, Sector 78, Noida, GB Nagar. 201304. India. International journalist & media professional having great insight of South Asian market Known for creativity, innovation & strategies in media business Published writer and filmmaker
Bilingual
&
Blending objectivity, creativity & business is my mantra Launched/revamped 8 News TV channels across India, Pakistan & Bangladesh Trained more than 1500 TV news professionals in South Asia An early bird to digital media, working since 2008 Started and established 3 innovative ventures in OTT/digital media Created and curated huge number of original video content for TV and digital Worked across UK & South Asia at Best brands like BBC, Star TV & Tata Speaker, specialist, panelist and member of jury
At forums like SAARC CXO summit, Digital Matters Singapore, the International film festival of India (IFFI), New Delhi Institute of Management, Culture Summit at Nehru Centre UK, Majaz Foundation UK, World Hindi Summit, Institute of Professional Studies, Nanavati College, Mumbai, Lucknow Youth Festival, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) New Delhi, India and Sustainability Standards: International Dialogue & Conference, Indus Forum (Indo-Dutch Sustainability), European Business Summit 2017, CSR-Europe international Conclave and many more. A peek into my work and career
Work Experience
Partner, Aspiring Mediaworks (January 2019 -Till Date) The major projects of the company include:
• Developing news portals – thespark.in & aapkikhabar.live (hyperlocal news portal). Managing youtube channels of the company.
• Supervising localisation review projects for a global OTT giant.
• Consulting and implementing assignments in the CSR-Sustainability communication and news domain. Assignments include developing distinct communication strategies, tools and content for CSR programmes to showcase the impact effectively enhancing the brand image. Major assignments include:
• Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India: Ideation, designing, editing & publication/production of multimedia content including coffeetable book, sectoral booklets, award brochure and films, based on evaluation and reports for 1st National CSR Awards.
• India Sustainable Palmoil Coalition(India-SPOC): Help creating multistakeholder platform for sustainable production and procurement, developing communication strategy and creatives including website and C4D content for Responsible Shopping Campaign. Freelance/Consultant (Since 2005)
• Contributing to news portal THE PRINT, Voice of America (VOA), Newsworld India, BBC Radio & online, Fox news (US), France 24, Canada Broadcasting Corporation, CBS network (US), RTE
(Ireland), Samaa News (Pakistan), 92news Channel (Pakistan), Dunya TV (Pakistan) and few other Oceania, American & Canadian networks.
ARUN K ASTHANA
2
• Conceived & implemented the Replay TV at Indian Premiere League (IPL)-2014 in association with franchisees- Delhi Daredevils, Kings Eleven Punjab & Kolkata Knight Riders. First of its kind in-stadia TV Channel - Replay TV, is a real blend of creativity, broadcast technology and power of digital media. Implemented for Incredible Telemedia Limited, New Delhi.
• Revamped and relaunched TV channel Sahara Samay (Mumbai) successfully. Reduced the operating expenses, improved the TRP/GRP ratings 10-16 times and turned a stale zero revenue channel into vibrant, much watched and revenue making network within 6 months.
• Relaunched successfully the AAJ TV, Pakistan with extended news programming by developing new programming strategy and conducting training workshop for News professionals.
• Produced/directed Ad/corporate films for reputed clients like - SBI Life, Kotak Mahindra Bank, short films - Mughalta, Conman, Perception, Tum kehte ho to and more than 500 other videos of different genres for digital platforms.
• Creative Advisor/consultant to many TV shows and films including “Jis Angan Na Hoye Bitiya”(Mahuaa TV) “Benny and Babloo”, a feature film, starring – Kay Kay Menon, Richa chaddha, Sweta Tiwari, Rajpal Yadav, Ria Sen, Rukhsaar.
• Developed digital and creative strategy of Sita Films & Entertainment Pvt Ltd, producing shows on Bindaas, Sony TV and other channels besides producing feature films.
• Produced ‘365 days- The News Channel’ –A 26 episode comedy series for Doordarshan (Indian Public broadcaster).
• Kaifi Ki kaifiyat - Co- scripted and produced a life sketch of reputed Urdu poet Late Kaifi Azmi, telecast on Doordarshan.
Executive Director, Centre for responsible Business, New Delhi (Jan 2017-June 2019) Leading this centre of excellence, working towards sustainable development & CSR, with a mandate to develop visibility in media, and engagement with policymakers and corporates. Developed media & communication vertical besides taking care of its events. Devised and organized Its flagship annual international conference India and Sustainability Standards (ISS) which is a go-to place for sustainability professionals, globally. Produced, written and directed COLLABORATION, a documentary film underlining the challenges for the sustainable development in India (telecast on premiere business news TV channel - ET Now) besides producing more than 40 digital videos promoting sustainable development
& CSR. Moved to advisory role in January 2019. Developing media and digital communication strategies for advocacy and more visibility.
CRB was created by German international development agency- GIZ. It has been working with national & international lorganisations like - Embassy of Netherlands (India), UNEP, Unicef, UNDP, UNIDO, IDRC Canada, Aston University UK, QCI, WWF, C&A foundation, PwC and many more.
Director, Deltacore Media Pvt Ltd, Mumbai (October 2015 – Nov 2016) Envisaged and created digital media platform – ‘PRAVACHAN: The Divine App’ from scratch. Its first of its kind mobile app serving Spirituality and spreading awareness towards causes. Having news, discourses, and other informations in video, audio, Images and text format of multiple spiritual leaders, updated and served to their followers on a daily basis. HW News is its latest avatar. CEO, VVIDIA Communications Private Limited (Oct. 2011- Dec 2013) Identified the need–gap, created the digital Media company from scratch. Signed up major telecom players like - Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Tata Docomo, MTS as well as YouTube, Dailymotion, SAMSUNG and NOKIA as direct clients/partners. Created relationship with more than hundred content partners in and outside India with a focus on language/vernacular videos. Keeping the digital media ecosystem in view, produced more than 1000 videos – stock tips, knowledge tips, comedy gags, health tips, travelogues etc.
Content Head, TATA TELESERVICES Ltd, Mumbai. (August 2008 – Sept. 2011) As the head of content business unit I achieved successfully:
• Implementation of “Digital Mumbai”- a dream project of Mr. Ratan N. Tata.
• Synergising the content needs and licensing of all platforms. Selected, negotiated and managed content acquisition and relationships in with more than 50 vendors globally, including News networks, entertainment companies and other content producers. ARUN K ASTHANA
3
• Outsourcing and supervision of promotional/branding content for multiple platforms.
• Designing & implementing of content roadmap & strategy for all its digital platforms – broadband portals, IPTV & mobile.
• Roll out of IPTV & Broadband portals in co-ordination with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
• Providing creative and content support to marketing and corporate communications for branding and marketing activities.
Vice President (Content), IOL Netcom Ltd. (FKA– IOL Broadband Ltd) Mumbai. (Jan 2008 – Jul 2008) IOL has pioneered the IPTV in India. As head of the content division, I mentored the strategy and editorial teams of ITN News, a news channel owned by the company, created & operated 10 IPTV channels for the state run telecom operators -BSNL & MTNL as well as other OTT players. Besides acquiring content from multiple global vendors, I developed innovative revenue streams within six months.
Vice President, Mediaguru Consultants Pvt. Ltd. India. (Oct 2005 - Jan 2008) Successfully lead and accomplished more than half a dozen turnkey projects to launch or revamp TV/Radio networks in South Asia. The tasks include – technical & regulatory requirements, set-up, packaging and brand strategy, hiring and training of news & programming professionals and devising programming strategy. Few prime projects:
• EXPRESS NEWS, Lahore, Pakistan.
• CSB NEWS, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Manorama News (3 Channels Network), Kerala, India.
• NEWSLIVE, Guwahati, India.
• Voice of India/ Triveni Network, New Delhi, India. Senior Producer, Star News, Mumbai. India. (01.01.2003 – June 2004). It was a supervisory position responsible for the editorial content and format of the telecast. I was part of the editorial leadership team for the channel, which planned the programming and newsgathering, monitored the content quality and launched it successfully within a span of 3 months. I trained the whole news & programme team before the launch of the channel along with the trainers from Fox News (USA), Skynews (UK) and Star (Hong Kong). After the launch I led a team of producers to plan, produce and present news and programmes.
Broadcast Journalist/Producer, BBC, London. (1997 – Dec. 2002) Worked in the World Service HQ at the Bush House & Television centre at White city as multimedia, multilingual journalist. Produced & presented daily live shows and many current affairs and feature programmes. Reported from multiple location on important events and issues. Special Assignments:
• Planned, produced and presented 11 part programme ‘E-VIBHAJAN’ for BBC Online and radio after travelling extensively in rural and urban India in 2001. This series is an in-depth study of digital divide and its social, cultural, geographical, economical and psychological impacts in India.
• Planned produced and presented ‘AAKANKSHA’- a special 13 episode radio series on status and rights of children in India. Broadcast by BBC World Service in 1999, partly funded by UNICEF. Awarded with the certificate of merit by BBC Education.
• Planned, produced and presented more than 50 episodes of NAI PEERHI, a feature radio programme dedicated to young generation.
• Produced and presented an interactive show- AAPKI BAAT BBC KE SAATH – with prominent personalities and listeners.
Correspondent/State Correspondent, Amar Ujala/Karobar, State Bureau, Lucknow & Meerut (Jan 1994 – Aug 1997)
Reported on political, social & economic issues and events with dozens of special/ exclusive stories. Correspondent, The Pioneer Group (February 1990 - December 1993). Worked as city reporter at Lucknow, Moradabad and Kanpur. Correspondent/Sub Editor, Sentinel Hindi, Guwahati (1989-90). ARUN K ASTHANA
4
Publications
Short stories collection – KAISA AADMI HU MAIN published by PENGUIN INDIA in January 2015. Selected among the best 10 Hindi books of 2015 by Femina (a Times Group Publication) and got rave reviews. Novel PRANAAM published from Vani Prakashan. This political fiction based in North India, uncovers the story of criminalisation of politics, and exploitation of young generation. Short stories published in reputed literary journals of Hindi like Hans, Kathadesh & many broadsheets/magazines in India. Over 250 articles / special features on political, social, cultural and literary issues published in leading newspapers of India. Socio cultural activities
Conceived and started Lucknow Youth Festival in 1995. This much-appreciated event still promotes awareness in youths towards the rich and unique culture and tradition of Lucknow, a north Indian city. Every year more than 3000 youths participate in the different events of this 15 days long festival. Founded MAJAZ FOUNDATION in the UK to promote the co existence of Hindi and Urdu literature in and outside India. The foundation had organised its Mega event SHAM-E-MAJAZ in February 2002 with full house at the Nehru Centre in London to commemorate the great poet. Personal and Educational Background
Date & Place of Birth :14.02.1968, Lucknow (India) Nationality : Indian (Permanent resident, UK)
Language Known : English, Hindi & Urdu (Spoken only). Training & Education
• Management Leadership Course, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIMC).
• Television Production & Newsgathering, BBC WORLD, London.
• Applied training of Online journalism, BBC, London.
• Advance courses in Radio Broadcasting, BBC World Service, London.
• Arts appreciation course, State Museum, Lucknow.
• B.Sc. (Geology) from Lucknow University, Lucknow.
Contact this candidate