Network18 names Kshipra Jatana as NBDA representative, replacing Rahul Joshi

Network18 is set to nominate Kshipra Jatana, the group's legal and regulatory affairs chief, as its representative on the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), replacing Managing Director Rahul Joshi, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.

The development follows Joshi's decision to step down from the industry's apex body due to increasing professional commitments, while continuing as Managing Director of Network18.

Jatana's appointment comes at a politically significant juncture for the media industry. It follows the recent debate over the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's Television Rating Policy, where the issue of excluding landing page viewership from television ratings sharply divided broadcasters.

Industry sources noted that the Indian Broadcasting & Digital Foundation (IBDF), led by JioStar, had broadly backed retaining the existing landing page framework during consultations, while Network18 had taken a different position and opposed the continuation of landing page ratings, arguing for reforms in the audience measurement methodology.

What makes the transition particularly noteworthy, according to executives familiar with the matter, is that Jatana has increasingly been handling legal, regulatory and policy matters not just for Network18 but also at the Reliance group level, including JioStar.

"Kshipra today operates across the Group. She oversees legal, regulatory and government affairs for Network18 while also working on group-level matters. Her appointment effectively creates a single policy interface for both companies in industry forums," said a senior industry executive.

Sources said the move further strengthens Jatana's position within Reliance's media ecosystem, reflecting the group's increasing preference for a unified regulatory and policy strategy. 

Her expanded responsibilities are also seen as particularly relevant at a time when both Network18 and JioStar are navigating multiple regulatory issues involving broadcasting reforms, audience measurement, digital news policy, content regulation and advertising norms.

According to company information, Jatana serves as Group Legal Counsel for Network18 and heads Legal, Policy and Regulatory Affairs for the company while also working across group businesses, including JioStar. She oversees regulatory and government affairs matters across the Group's businesses and joint ventures and plays a central role in shaping legal and regulatory strategy, enabling business growth and strengthening governance frameworks.

Jatana has three decades of nextensive experience in handling legal, regulatory and policy matters across the media industry.

Industry executives say her growing influence became evident after she was entrusted with responsibilities extending beyond Network18 to include JioStar, making her one of Reliance's principal legal and policy voices in the media sector.

Her elevation to represent Network18 at NBDA is therefore being viewed as more than a routine replacement for Joshi.

"It institutionalises a common regulatory approach for the group's media assets. Earlier, the companies often had separate leadership voices in industry bodies. Now there is increasing convergence," another person familiar with the development said.

The appointment also assumes significance because it comes soon after the industry's divisions over television ratings reforms.

During discussions surrounding the implementation of the Ministry's Television Rating Policy, broadcasters had differed on the treatment of landing pages—automatically played channels that appear when viewers switch on their television sets.

According to people aware of those deliberations, IBDF under JioStar supported retaining the existing framework, whereas Network18 advocated the removal of landing page impressions from ratings, arguing that the methodology distorted genuine viewership.

With Jatana now representing Network18 at NBDA while simultaneously handling policy and regulatory affairs across the broader Reliance media ecosystem, industry observers expect greater alignment in the group's engagement with regulators and industry associations.

Her appointment also comes at a time when JioStar is yet to appoint a full-time General Counsel following the integration of the merged media entity, according to sources. Until such an appointment is made, executives said, Jatana continues to play a key role in legal and regulatory coordination across the group's media businesses.

Meanwhile, Joshi's exit from NBDA is understood to be purely administrative.

People familiar with the matter said his resignation stems from the increasing demands of leading Network18's broadcast and digital news operations, which have limited his ability to regularly participate in NBDA meetings and committee deliberations.

He will continue as Managing Director of Network18 and is expected to remain focused on steering the company's news businesses.

The transition comes as NBDA continues to engage extensively with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and other government departments on issues ranging from broadcasting reforms and audience measurement to self-regulation, digital news policy and advertising regulations.

Network18 confirmed the development to e4m.