Uday Shankar on India’s media and entertainment evolution
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The incoming vice-chair of what is set to become India’s largest media and digital entertainment company looks back on a decades-long career, and what lies ahead for the sector and India.
Media executive and entrepreneur Uday Shankar has played a key role in the transformation of entertainment and media in India and the Asia–Pacific region over the past three decades. After getting his start in journalism, Shankar transitioned to the entertainment business in 2007 as CEO of Star India, part of News Corp. He later went on to hold executive roles at 21st Century Fox (Asia) and Disney (Asia–Pacific). While at Star, Shankar created a slew of pioneering television content for India, including a first-of-its-kind talk show, Satyamev Jayate, which tackled socially relevant issues such as alcoholism and female infanticide. Shankar also transformed televised cricket coverage in India and popularized the Indian-origin sport kabaddi, helping make it the second-most-viewed spectator sport in India after cricket. Under Shankar’s leadership, Star launched the video-streaming platform Hotstar (now Disney+ Hotstar).
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Media executive and entrepreneur Uday Shankar has played a key role in the transformation of entertainment and media in India and the Asia–Pacific region over the past three decades. After getting his start in journalism, Shankar transitioned to the entertainment business in 2007 as CEO of Star India, part of News Corp. He later went on to hold executive roles at 21st Century Fox (Asia) and Disney (Asia–Pacific). While at Star, Shankar created a slew of pioneering television content for India, including a first-of-its-kind talk show, Satyamev Jayate, which tackled socially relevant issues such as alcoholism and female infanticide. Shankar also transformed televised cricket coverage in India and popularized the Indian-origin sport kabaddi, helping make it the second-most-viewed spectator sport in India after cricket. Under Shankar’s leadership, Star launched the video-streaming platform Hotstar (now Disney+ Hotstar).