Kevin Vaz re-elected IBDF president, stresses strength of TV

Core Insights - The Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF) held its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM), where Kevin Vaz was re-elected as President, emphasizing the resilience of linear television and its critical role in content creation and brand building in India [6] - Vaz highlighted that 97% of India's original content, nearly 200,000 hours in 2024, is produced for television, which garners 46 trillion minutes of annual viewing across 190 million screens [6] - The AGM announced the appointment of Avinash Pandey as Secretary General, focusing on strengthening IBDF's advocacy role and government engagement [6] Leadership Changes - Gaurav Banerjee and R. Mahesh Kumar were re-elected to the IBDF Board, with Anil Kumar Singhvi joining as a new director [2] - Co-opted members include Sumanta Bose, John Brittas, and Nachiket Pantvaidya [2] - The Board also includes Aroon Purie, Gaurav Dwivedi, Jayant Mathew, and Punit Goenka [6] Industry Outlook - Vaz indicated that festive demand and GST reforms are expected to drive an advertising revival in the television sector [6] - The future of television is seen in combining scale and trust with digital reach, with IBDF advocating for a stable regulatory regime to support long-term growth [6] Government Engagement - The AGM was attended by key government officials, including Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju and Additional Secretary Prabhat, who engaged with broadcasters during a luncheon [5]