MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu-based New Generation Media has elevated its director operations RBU Shyam Kumar to the post of Group CEO. Kumar assumed charge last week.

The main focus of Kumar?s responsibilities as CEO will be to expand the reach of the group?s flagship news channel Puthiya Thalamurai over the state. He will report to group president RP Sathyanarayanan.

Kumar will also be responsible for the launch of the group?s new channels - a Tamil GEC and an English news channel in 2013.

Talking to indiantelevision.com, Kumar said, "Our Tamil news channel Puthiya Thalamurai which launched in August last year is doing very well in the state. The goal will be to make sure that the channel increases its reach in the regions of Chennai where it is lagging a tad."

Kumar started his career is 1995 with Times of India where he worked for 14 years. He held the post of city sales head at the publication when he quit. He joined New Generation Media in 2009 as director - operations.

MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television will join PricewaterhouseCoopers at the television trade event Mipcom 2012 to discuss the future of media, entertainment and broadcasting.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) global leader entertainment, media practice Marcel Fenez will present the annual PwC Global Entertainment & Media Outlook at Mipcom on 8 October, outlining forecasts in the media and leisure industries. This industry report will be followed by interviews conducted by Fenez with Sony Pictures Television president of International Production and Sony Pictures Entertainment president of international Andrea Wong.

In her Mipcom keynote interview, Wong will discuss the PwC Outlook findings and how they are reflected in the production activity that SPT International Production undertakes around the world, as well as international production and commissioning trends.

Wong heads the studio?s international television production business, overseeing the creative teams outside the US as well as the 18 owned and joint venture international production companies around the world.

Organised by Reed Midem, Mipcom will take place in Cannes, France from 8-11 October.

MUMBAI: Balaji Telefilms Group chief executive officer Puneet Kinra has quit and will join the film-focused private equity company which will be floated by the promoters of the company, a source in the company revealed on condition of anonymity.

Kinra has been group CEO Balaji Telefilms since October 2008. He had joined the company from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where he was working as associate director of its Investment Banking practice.

Prior to joining PwC, Kinra worked in a boutique investment bank focused on Telecom and Media. He has experience in domestic and cross border transactions in Media, Healthcare, Real Estate, Retail, Pharma, Communications, Technology, FMCG and Manufacturing.