Network18 Names Mihir Bhatt Chief Content Officer of News18 Studios in Major Leadership Move

Introduction

In an era where the boundaries between broadcast journalism, branded content studios, and OTT entertainment are dissolving rapidly, the role of a Chief Content Officer at a major Indian media network has never been more strategically complex — or more commercially consequential. Network18 has made a significant leadership appointment at News18 Studios, bringing in a professional whose career sits precisely at the intersection of editorial credibility, revenue innovation, and large-scale content franchise building. Mihir Bhatt's arrival signals the network's intent to scale its Studios business with both storytelling ambition and business rigour.

The Big Announcement

Network18 has appointed Mihir Bhatt as Chief Content Officer for News18 Studios. The appointment was communicated internally by Rahul Joshi, with Bhatt reporting to S Shivakumar in his new capacity. He will lead the Studios execution vertical alongside revenue streams across emerging markets and campaigns. Senior executives Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar, and Nimar Sarkaria will work directly under his leadership going forward.

Bhatt brings over two decades of experience spanning television, digital, and radio — a career defined by the rare ability to combine editorial excellence with strong commercial instincts. His appointment is expected to accelerate Network18's Studios business at a time when competition across broadcast, digital, and OTT platforms is intensifying significantly.

In his most recent roles, Bhatt served as Managing Editor at Times Network and Chief Business Officer at Times Influence, where he built one of the Indian media industry's most respected content studios. During that tenure, he created and scaled marquee intellectual properties including the India Economic Conclave, Times Now Summit, and Leaders of Tomorrow — flagship events that established new benchmarks for premium branded content and thought leadership programming in Indian media.

He also drove Times Network's expansion into premium OTT content through strategic collaborations with Disney Plus Hotstar and Discovery Plus, demonstrating an ability to navigate the evolving streaming landscape from within a traditional broadcast organisation.

What This Means for Your Brand

Bhatt's appointment at News18 Studios carries meaningful implications for brand marketers, agency partners, and media buyers operating within India's premium content and branded entertainment ecosystem.

One — News18 Studios is signalling a serious upgrade in its content and revenue ambitions. Appointing a CCO with Bhatt's pedigree — someone who has built category-defining intellectual properties and managed large-scale strategic partnerships — is not a maintenance hire. It is a growth hire. Brands that partner with News18 Studios for content creation, campaign integration, and thought leadership programming can expect a more sophisticated, better-resourced creative and commercial partner going forward.

Two — the branded content and content studio space in India is entering a consolidation phase. As networks, digital platforms, and independent studios compete for brand marketing budgets that are increasingly flowing toward content-led engagement rather than traditional advertising, the quality of studio leadership becomes a direct competitive differentiator. Bhatt's track record of building properties like the India Economic Conclave — which attract senior government participation, global corporate leaders, and significant media coverage — represents exactly the kind of premium content infrastructure that blue-chip brands seek as partners.

Three — his experience with global platforms and international governments adds a dimension that most Indian content studio leaders lack. Having led Global Investor Summits for multiple state governments and worked with organisations like the World Economic Forum, Bhatt brings a perspective on content that operates at the intersection of policy, business, and media — a rare and valuable combination for a network with News18's national reach and editorial authority.

The broader context worth noting: Network18, as part of the Reliance Industries ecosystem, has significant scale advantages in content distribution. The Studios business needs leadership that can match that distribution reach with content ambition and commercial creativity. Bhatt's appointment suggests that alignment is now a priority.

Expert Take

Bhatt's earlier tenure as Editor of Zee Business is particularly instructive. His pioneering work on investor education initiatives during that period — programmes that continue to serve as industry benchmarks — demonstrated an understanding that content at the intersection of finance, public awareness, and media engagement can build both audience trust and institutional credibility simultaneously. That sensibility, applied to the broader canvas of News18 Studios, could produce genuinely distinctive content programming.

His role in the launch of the Indian Pickleball League as part of his previous organisation's management team also reveals an entrepreneurial instinct — the willingness to back emerging categories before they become mainstream. For a content studio looking to diversify beyond news-adjacent branded content into sports, lifestyle, and entertainment IP, that experience is directly relevant.

The appointment also reflects a broader industry trend: media organisations are increasingly looking for studio leaders who are simultaneously editorial thinkers, commercial architects, and partnership builders — because in 2026, content without a clear revenue model is a cost centre, not a growth engine.

The brands.in Perspective

Mihir Bhatt stepping into the CCO role at News18 Studios is one of those appointments that makes strategic sense the moment you read the brief. Network18 has the distribution, the brand equity, and the audience scale to support a world-class content studio. What it needs is leadership that can translate that infrastructure into premium content franchises, brand partnership revenue, and digital content assets that compound in value over time. Bhatt has done exactly that before — at a competitor. The question now is whether Network18 gives him the creative and commercial latitude to do it again, at greater scale. If so, the branded content landscape in India is about to get considerably more competitive.

Key Takeaways for Marketers

• Mihir Bhatt appointed Chief Content Officer at News18 Studios, reporting to S Shivakumar
• Brings 20-plus years of experience across television, digital, and radio media
• Previously built marquee properties including India Economic Conclave and Times Now Summit at Times Network
• Led OTT content expansion through Disney Plus Hotstar and Discovery Plus collaborations
• Appointment signals Network18's intent to scale Studios business with premium content and revenue ambition

FAQ

What is Mihir Bhatt's new role at Network18? Mihir Bhatt has been appointed Chief Content Officer for News18 Studios at Network18. He will lead the Studios execution vertical along with revenue streams across emerging markets and campaigns, reporting to S Shivakumar, with senior executives Sidharth Saini, Hemanth Kumar, and Nimar Sarkaria reporting to him.

What is Mihir Bhatt's professional background? Bhatt brings over two decades of media experience. He most recently served as Managing Editor at Times Network and Chief Business Officer at Times Influence, where he created flagship properties including the India Economic Conclave and Times Now Summit. Earlier, he served as Editor of Zee Business and pioneered investor education content initiatives.

What is News18 Studios and what does it do? News18 Studios is the content and branded entertainment division of Network18, focused on creating high-impact content properties, branded campaigns, and large-scale media events. It operates at the intersection of editorial storytelling and commercial content creation for brand partners and platform collaborators.

Closing

As India's media landscape fractures and reconsolidates around content quality, platform reach, and commercial creativity, the leaders who can hold all three dimensions together will define which studios matter most to brands in the years ahead. Mihir Bhatt's appointment at News18 Studios puts him squarely in that conversation.

What do you think defines the ideal content studio partnership for Indian brands in 2026 — editorial credibility, platform reach, or creative innovation? Share your perspective below — and follow brands.in for daily intelligence on media leadership, content strategy, and marketing in India.