The Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) held its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the capital on September 29, bringing together industry leaders to assess the sector’s performance and outline the road ahead. The meeting was chaired by Kevin Vaz, President of IBDF and CEO – Entertainment, JioStar India Pvt. Ltd.

According to an IBDF press release, Vaz, in his inaugural address as President, reaffirmed the resilience of linear television in the Indian media landscape. “Despite geo-political and economic headwinds, linear television’s fundamentals remain strong. It continues to be the bedrock of content creation and brand building in India,” he said.

Backing his statement with data, Vaz pointed out that nearly 200,000 hours of original content in 2024—amounting to 97 per cent of the total—was created for linear TV. With around 46 trillion minutes of annual viewing across 190 million screens, television, he stressed, continues to command unmatched audience engagement compared to other mediums. “The family co-viewing experience keeps TV at the heart of Indian homes and culture,” he noted.

Looking ahead, the IBDF President projected a strong growth trajectory, citing the festive season as an immediate catalyst for advertising revenues and recent GST reforms as a long-term enabler. “Television’s next chapter is one of evolution – leveraging its enduring reach and trust, amplified by digital capabilities. Through IBDF, we will continue to advocate for a consistent, forward-looking regulatory regime that reaffirms television’s vital role in the nation’s media fabric,” Vaz said.

The AGM also completed board elections and key appointments. Gaurav Banerjee (Culver Max) and R. Mahesh Kumar (Sun Network) were re-elected, while Anil Kumar Singhvi (Zee Media) joined as a new board member. Following the meeting, the office bearers for the next term were confirmed: Kevin Vaz (President), Rajat Sharma (India TV), Gaurav Banerjee (Culver Max), and R. Mahesh Kumar (Sun Network) as Vice Presidents, and I. Venkat (Eenadu TV) as Treasurer.

Other board members include Aroon Purie (TV Today Network), Gaurav Dwivedi (Prasar Bharati), Jayant Mathew (MMTV), and Punit Goenka (Zee Entertainment). The board also co-opted Sumanta Bose (JioStar), John Brittas (Kairali TV), and Nachiket Pantvaidya (Culver Max) as members.

A major announcement at the AGM was the appointment of Avinash Pandey as the new Secretary General of IBDF, effective October 1, 2025. He succeeds Siddharth Jain, whose tenure concluded on September 30. The board expressed gratitude to Jain for his contributions and extended a warm welcome to Pandey. “I am honoured to take on this role at such a pivotal time for the industry. My focus will be on enhancing constructive dialogue with the government, navigating the evolving regulatory landscape, and strengthening the Foundation’s role as a unified voice for growth,” Pandey said.

The AGM was also attended by senior government officials, including Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), and Prabhat, Additional Secretary, MIB, as special guests at a luncheon hosted by IBDF. The gathering provided a platform for industry leaders to engage in dialogue with policymakers on the future of broadcasting and digital media in India.