Raj Nayak: will he stay?

According to sources, Nayak's mind is made up and he is definitely leaving. Even after two meetings with Mukerjea.

And he is expected to stay on at least for another three to four months until he wraps up all the business deals he was working on. Sources indicate that Nayak is extremely keen on leaving Star on an even healthier wicket on his departure, ensuring that his successor finds the going easy so that Star continues to rule the Hindi entertainment channel roast.

One of the oldest veterans in Star TV's India's operations, Nayak had, over the past three to four years, built up a very strong ad sales team, building up on something that Mukerjea himself had been instrumental in setting up when he headed the ad sales function at Star India (then News Television India).

Nayak is believed to be interested in setting up his own venture in the area of air time and media consulting.

Sources indicate that Star's head office in Hong Kong is likely to also try and convince Nayak to stay put today and tomorrow.

Nayak built up a reputation as a professional who dared to lift the bar as far as rates for television air time are concerned at the Star Network with which he was employed for more than nine years. Today TV spots on Star Plus' top notch shows Kyuunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki sell at around Rs 1.56 million for 30 seconds.

Nayak is part of the crack core senior Star Network management team which includes Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea and current COO Sameer Nair which took Star Plus to the top of the Indian charts.

Read earlier story on Nayak's reported resignation

Quo vadis Star India's Raj Nayak

Read earlier indiantelevision.com interviews with Raj Nayak -

"If cannibalisation has to happen it is better we eat the flesh ourselves"

'The Network strategy has worked extremely well for us as a selling proposition' (4 February 2002)