Akhil Bhalla named Product Head-CTV; Sanjeev Kumar Choudhary as Head-CTV Revenue at NDTV

NDTV has expanded its focus on Connected TV (CTV) with the appointment of Akhil Bhalla as Product Head – Connected TV and Sanjeev Kumar Choudhary as Head of Connected TV Revenue.

The appointments come at a time when Connected TV is becoming an increasingly important medium for watching video and consuming news. CTV brings together the large-screen viewing experience of traditional television with the targeting, measurement and flexibility offered by digital platforms.

CTV adoption in India has been growing steadily. More than 129 million people are estimated to have watched digital video on CTV devices at least once in the previous month, while the platform has reached more than 60 million households. This growth is making CTV an important part of India's expanding digital video ecosystem.

Advertiser interest in CTV is also increasing. India's CTV advertising market is estimated to be worth around USD 760 million in 2025 and is expected to move closer to USD 1 billion in 2026. Globally, CTV advertising revenue is projected to reach USD 51 billion by 2029.

With these appointments, NDTV plans to develop a dedicated CTV business covering product development, content experience, distribution and monetisation.

As Product Head – Connected TV, Akhil Bhalla will lead NDTV's CTV product and editorial experience. His role will focus on improving the way audiences discover, watch and engage with news on connected television platforms.

Bhalla brings considerable experience in CTV and digital news products. He previously worked with JioHotstar, earlier known as Disney+ Hotstar, where he was involved in integrating more than 45 national and regional news channels and developing solutions for real-time news engagement. He has also worked with several prominent media organisations during his career.

Bhalla said CTV is changing the way people consume news and added that NDTV's strong reputation for credible journalism provides a solid foundation for building a future-ready CTV offering.

Sanjeev Kumar Choudhary will head the revenue operations for NDTV's CTV business. His responsibilities will include expanding distribution, developing partnerships and identifying new monetisation opportunities.

Choudhary joins NDTV from Republic Media Network and brings experience in digital revenue, CTV partnerships and large-scale monetisation. During his previous roles, he worked on partnerships with platforms including Yupp, Jio, Samsung TV Plus, LG, Planetcast and Google Showcase.

Choudhary said the expanding CTV audience and increasing advertiser interest create a strong opportunity for the business. He added that NDTV's established brand and editorial credibility can help create premium advertising and revenue opportunities in the segment.

Rahul Kanwal, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, NDTV, said Connected TV is changing the way audiences access news by combining the reach of television with the capabilities of digital technology. He added that NDTV's investment in CTV will help the network adapt to changing viewing habits while opening up new growth opportunities.

With these leadership appointments, NDTV aims to strengthen its position in India's growing CTV market. The network plans to use the platform to reach wider audiences, improve engagement and develop new revenue streams as connected television becomes more widely adopted.