The News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) has entered its 2026-27 term with a familiar face at the helm. Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV, has been unanimously re-elected as President after the NBDA Board of Directors expressed confidence in his continued leadership.
The association represents 29 leading news and current affairs broadcasters, covering 130 news channels and digital platforms. That scale makes it one of the most influential trade bodies in India’s news media ecosystem, and its leadership choices are closely watched by media professionals.
Board changes at the 19th AGM
At the 19th Annual General Meeting, NBDA welcomed Jayant Mammen Mathew, representing MM TV Ltd., to its Board of Directors. The same meeting appointed Rachna Burman, Director – Public Policy & Content Assurance at The Times Group, and Kshipra Jatana, Group General Counsel at Network18 Media & Investments Limited, as Permanent Directors.
The wider board includes:
- M.V. Shreyams Kumar, Managing Director, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd.
- Anuradha Prasad Shukla, Chairperson and Managing Director, News24 Broadcast India Ltd.
- Kalli Purie Bhandal, Vice-Chairperson & Managing Director, TV Today Network Ltd.
- Anil Kumar Malhotra, Advisor, Zee Media Corporation Ltd.
- Dhruba Mukherjee, Director, ABP Network Pvt. Ltd.
- Rahul Kanwal, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, New Delhi Television Ltd.
- Mahesh Kumar Rajaraman, Managing Director, Sun TV Network Ltd.
Why a trade body election matters to marketers
Industry associations can influence the operating environment in which news media and advertising meet. For brands and agencies, news channels remain a high-reach environment, especially for large-scale or time-sensitive campaigns. A change in association leadership—or the decision to stay the course—can signal which issues may gain attention, from content standards to the broader policy climate around news broadcasting.
This re-election points to continuity. Unanimous support suggests the board wants to maintain its current direction rather than signal a pivot. At the same time, new and permanent directors bring different corporate, legal, and editorial perspectives into the room.
A practical frame for media teams
Marketers can treat this as a stakeholder-mapping exercise. Place bodies like NBDA on the same radar as platforms, measurement firms, and regulatory developments. Then ask two questions: Is the organisation signalling stability or transition? And what could that mean for news-led media plans over the next cycle?
Practically, media planners can track NBDA board updates alongside other industry signals. If the association shifts its position on an issue, review news-led campaigns for any implications. Do not ignore governance changes just because they feel removed from day-to-day campaign execution; these bodies shape the context in which media runs.
Source: MediaNews4U
