MUMBAI: After having led Sony Entertainment Television, now known as Multi Screen Media, as CEO for almost 14 years, Kunal Dasgupta has resigned. Dasgupta has been with Sony since before the channel’s launch in India in July 1995.
The announcement was made by Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) president international networks Andy Kaplan. Stepping into Dasgupta’s shoes will be Multi Screen Media board chairman Man Jit Singh, who will handle the portfolio in the interim until a replacement is found.
"Kunal was one of the first people to join what was then our only channel in India, Sony Entertainment Television, and has played an instrumental role in growing our channels’ business to what it is today. Kunal has maintained fruitful relationships with India’s top directors, producers and actors, and has close ties to the cricket world. While his experience and leadership will be greatly missed, we are fortunate that Multi Screen Media has strong existing management and the business is strategically focused," said Kaplan.
Dasgupta leaves Multi Screen with rights to Indian Premier League cricket, one of the most valuable TV properties in India.
Dasgupta played a key role in the formation of a distribution bouquet, TheOneAlliance, a joint venture between MSM and Discovery Communications India that distributes 18 channels throughout the subcontinent. Apart from MSM channels, TheOneAlliance also distributes SPTI’s AXN and Animax channels, Discovery, Animal Planet, Discovery Travel & Living, MTV, Nick, VH1, Aaj Tak, Tez, Headlines Today, NDTV Profit, NDTV 24×7, NDTV India and from 1 April, it will have Colors.
Prior to joining Sony, he held executive positions at Mattel Toys and the DGP group. Dasgupta was also the co-chairman of the FICCI Entertainment Committee. The recently concluded FICCI FRAMES named Karan Johar as the new co-chairman.
Dasgupta, is credited with tremendous growth for SPTI’s television networks business in India, from just one channel in 1995, Sony Entertainment Television (SET), to Multi Screen and a stream of other channels, that now includes not only SET, but also MAX, SAB and PIX. Besides, the overall management of Multi Screen’s channels in India, Dasgupta also played a significant role in the formation of a distribution bouquet, TheOneAlliance, a joint venture between Multi Screen and Discovery Communications, India that distributes 18 channels throughout the subcontinent. Other than distributing Multi Screen’s channels, TheOneAlliance also distributes SPTI’s AXN and Animax channels along with, Discovery, Animal Planet, Discovery Travel & Living, MTV, Nick, VH1, Aaj Tak, Tez, Headlines Today, NDTV Profit, NDTV 24×7, NDTV India and Colors.
