RESHUFFLE AT ZEE TV TOO

In a major reshuffle of work responsibilties reflecting imminent changes, Deepak Shourie,operating partner in Zee Publishing and one of the chief executives of Zee Network, has been made responsible for all the news operations of Zee channels, including its marketing.

This will effectively also make Shourie the head of Zee News, a 24-hour news and current affairs channel in the Zee stable.

Zee News is currently under the direct control of Zee Telefilms managing director, Vijay Jindal. The changes on the news operation front are likely to be made effective immediately.

According to an office circular issued on Nov 29 and signed by Subhash Chandra, "In order to provide greater focus in the network to news with immediate effect, all news related products, that is Zee and regional news and their marketing, will now report to Mr. Deepak Shourie."

The circular also states that Shourie will also be responsible for the development of the English news channel, tentatively called Asia News Network. "The news segment will now be treated as a separate profit centre within the organisation," the circular says.

Mumbai-based sources in Zee added Jindal is to be relocated soon to Bangalore where E-Connect Ltd, a multi media and new media company co-promoted by Jindal along with Subhash Chandra, is headquatered.

Zee Telefilms chief executive, R.K. Singh, who joined Zee recently after resigning as country head of ESPN India, will spearhead all other broadcasting activities of Zee, including the regional and soon-to-be launched channels and the direct-to-operator digital venture, the sources said.

At the time of announcing Jindal the co-promoter of E-Connect Ltd in June, Chandra in an office circular had said, "Mr Jindal shall ensure continuity and smooth transition of the mangement in the next six months or so in his capacity as the managing director of the company."

The circular had gone on to say that Jindal will be responsible for "selecting and inducting the new incumbents and probable chief executives for the existing media business of Zee Network in its different domains."