Zee poaches Goyal to lead network revamp

<p>NEW DELHI: Zee TV has reached deep into the advertising industry for its </p><p>new group chief executive officer, poaching Rediffusion-DY&R president, </p><p>Sandeep Goyal. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Goyal, who will head the network's 15 channels, will have his job cut </p><p>out for him - his key task will be to lead the network back to the top </p><p>out of its precarious third placing. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Some months ago, Zee had hired management consultancy AT Kearney to help </p><p>rationalise the organisation, but sources say Goyal's appointment is not </p><p>part of the restructuring plan. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Zee has seen major personnel changes in recent months, including the </p><p>departure of chief executive, Vijay Jindal, the sidelining of former </p><p>head of content, R. K. Singh, and the resignation of Zee News chief </p><p>executive, Deepak Shourie. On Kearney's recommendation, Shourie's print </p><p>project, TV World, has been closed. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Meanwhile, rival satellite broadcaster Star has moved in Altaf Ali Khan </p><p>from its Hong Kong base to spearhead its USdollars 350 million </p><p>direct-to-home project in India. There is speculation that chief </p><p>executive, Peter Mukerjea, who propelled Star's rise in India, is headed </p><p>for Hong Kong. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Management changes are also underway at front-running niche channel, </p><p>Discovery Communications India. Sources said its managing director, </p><p>Kiran Karnik, may head up the government-owned station Doordarshan. He </p><p>has denied speculation, saying: "I have no job, and no offers." </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Shourie is tipped to take over from Karnik after an abortive stint at </p><p>Zee. Once voted India's most admired marketing man for his successes in </p><p>media, corporate affairs and consumer goods marketing, Shourie's task, </p><p>he says, is to pull Indian viewers away from mainstream television, </p><p>including Star and Sony. </p><p><BR><BR> </p><p>Three of Discovery's international channels - Discovery Kids, Discovery </p><p>Health and Discovery Travel and Adventure - are currently available as </p><p>programming blocks within the main channel. Media strategists believe </p><p>Discovery is looking to launch these as full-fledged channels. </p><p><BR><BR> </p>