NDTV, STAR India ink 5-year deal for ad sales

Broadcasting majors STAR India and NDTV Group today said they have signed a pact, where STAR India's ad sales team will now handle the advertising sales function of NDTV news channels.

Under the airtime sales alliance between STAR and NDTV, STAR will be the sole and exclusive representative of NDTV to conduct advertising sales for all NDTV news channels -- NDTV 24x7, NDTV India and NDTV Profit, the companies said in a joint statement.

"The combination of the NDTV news brand and STAR's leadership should be able to unlock significant value for NDTV. The presence of NDTV news shall strengthen STAR's sales bouquet and enable STAR to offer a comprehensive option to advertisers and agencies," STAR India CEO Uday Shankar said.

NDTV was earlier working with Raj Nayak-promoted Aidem Ventures for ad sales of these channels.

This is the first time STAR has taken the advertising sales responsibility of a major broadcasting group. In addition to frontline sales, STAR India will also be responsible for commercial back-office management like traffic, scheduling, billing and collections.

"NDTV is very pleased to announce this close and important relationship with STAR. STAR has been a trusted partner in the past and NDTV looks forward to this new initiative which we are certain will be of mutual benefit. In many ways it's a perfect fit," Prannoy Roy, chairman, NDTV said.