Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director and CEO of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI), has been appointed the new Chairman of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India. 

His appointment marks a pivotal moment for the industry’s television and digital viewership measurement body, as it sets sights on building future-ready systems that respond to India’s shifting content consumption landscape.

According to a report by Adtech, Banerjee steps into the role following the impactful tenure of outgoing Chairman Shashi Sinha, who held the position since March 2022. Sinha was widely credited with leading BARC through a critical phase of transformation, particularly its integration of deeper digital insights and enhanced transparency in audience data collection.

With over two decades of experience in both traditional broadcast and digital platforms, Banerjee’s career reflects a rare blend of creative excellence and business acumen. As MD and CEO of SPNI, he leads the company’s overall vision, business growth, and innovation across genres and platforms. His tenure is known for bridging storytelling and strategy, driving SPNI to become a formidable content powerhouse.

Prior to SPNI, Banerjee served as the head of content strategy at Disney+ Hotstar, where he played a key role in ramping up original programming across Hindi and regional markets, accelerating viewership and subscriber growth. His earlier leadership at Star India helped elevate flagship channels such as Star Plus and Star Gold, while establishing a robust regional footprint with channels like Star Jalsha and Star Pravah.

He also brings his industry-wide perspective through board roles at MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Pvt. Ltd. and Bangla Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (BEPL), strengthening his engagement with India’s vast and diverse entertainment ecosystem.

Banerjee’s appointment arrives at a crucial juncture for BARC India. The organisation continues to evolve its methodologies in response to rising digital consumption, fragmented viewing patterns, and growing demands for data granularity. As Chairman, Banerjee is expected to steer BARC toward greater inclusivity in audience representation and renewed trust in media metrics, while also accelerating innovation in how viewership is measured in a hybrid TV-digital environment.

Industry leaders are optimistic that under his leadership, BARC will not only reinforce its credibility but also push forward new standards for audience measurement—ones that reflect the scale, diversity, and digital dynamism of India’s media ecosystem.