Dish TV India Limited has made significant board appointments during its recent meeting held on December 18, 2023, awaiting regulatory approvals. The company approved the nominations of Sunil Khanna as an Independent Director and Ravi Bhushan Puri as an Executive Director, with Puri initially designated as an Additional Director within the Executive Director category.

In the BSE statement, these appointments, subject to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s approval in accordance with the ‘Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels,’ are expected to come into effect upon receiving regulatory clearance or upon the Board’s director count dropping below the mandatory minimum of three members, whichever occurs earlier (referred to as the “Effective Date”).

Ravi Bhushan Puri, known for his diverse skill set and proven track record in managing broadcast projects, will assume responsibilities encompassing STB (Set-Top Box) product development lifecycle, Broadcast Operations, and the oversight of Compression, Baseband, Electrical, Playout, and RF infrastructure for the Company. Notably, he presently serves as the ‘Corporate Head – Broadcasting’ and is deeply involved in Project Planning, Team Coordination, Budget and Quality Assurance, Vendor and Risk Management, and driving continuous improvement initiatives within the organization.

Puri’s technical proficiency spans various facets of Broadcast Systems, including Compression Headend, Baseband Systems, Playout & Automation Systems, MPEG, DVBS/DVBS2 Delivery Models, Streaming Protocols, Analog/Digital Video Standards, and STB Delivery Mechanisms.

On the other hand, Sunil Khanna, a seasoned professional with a background in B Tech (Hons) from IIT Kharagpur and PGDBM from IIM Bangalore, brings his extensive experience in India’s media industry to the table. His illustrious career includes pivotal roles at Zee Network, where he played an integral part in revolutionizing the cable industry’s distribution model, launching India’s first MSO, and spearheading the inception of Pay TV. Moreover, his tenure as CEO at Dish TV India Limited during 2004-2006 marked the pioneering phase of India’s first direct-to-home services.

Beyond his corporate endeavors, Khanna’s entrepreneurial spirit led to the co-founding of Grey Cells 18 Media Pvt Ltd, pioneering curriculum-linked TV channels like Greycells 18. Additionally, he is the Founder of Songdew Media Pvt Ltd, actively contributing to mainstreaming indie music and aiding retail brands in crafting sonic identities through music curation.

While Puri will retain his current remuneration as ‘Corporate Head – Broadcasting,’ Khanna’s appointment as an Independent Director shall extend for a period of five years from the Effective Date, exempting him from the retirement-by-rotation policy.

The company is poised to seek shareholders’ approval in compliance with relevant regulatory provisions concerning these appointments, which are expected to further augment Dish TV India’s strategic vision and growth trajectory in the media and broadcasting landscape.