MUMBAI: Neo Sports president, affiliate sales Arun Poddar has resigned and will exit the company by the month-end.
Poddar will join Media Network and Distribution (India) Ltd, a joint venture company between Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd and industry veteran Yogesh Radhakrishnan, as president, industry sources said.
Media Network and Distribution, an independent distribution platform, operates under the Prime Connect brand. It is an exclusive distributor for The Times Television Network channels - Times Now, ET Now, Movies Now and Zoom. The company will also tap third-party channels.
Neo has given the distribution of its sports channels on cable TV to MSM Discovery. Under Poddar, the company has already stitched direct-to-home (DTH) deals.
“There was not much of opportunity for Poddar inside Neo. MSM Discovery is in charge of distributing the Neo channels on cable. And under Poddar’s guidance, the DTH deals have been done. Media Network and Distribution throws up fresh challenges for him,” an industry source said.
Poddar had joined Neo Sports in June 2007, and was heading the distribution of the Neo Sports channels – Neo Sports and Neo Cricket - after the distribution deal with Star had a pre-mature ending.
Poddar has over 26 years experience and was with Zee Turner as CEO before joining Neo Sports. Prior to this, he had worked at Ten Sports as distribution head and was also with ESPN Star Sports.
