MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has announced the appointment of Aradhana Bhola to the role of the managing director at FremantleMedia India.
Based in Mumbai, Aradhana will head up the company’s Indian business, reporting in to Ian Hogg, FremantleMedia’s Regional Chief Executive Officer, Australia & Asia Pacific. As Managing Director, Aradhana will be responsible for managing all development and production operations in India and leveraging relationships with broadcast and digital partners throughout the country. The appointment will be effective immediately.
Announcing the appointment, Ian Hogg, said: “Aradhana is a class act, she's creative, energetic and driven. Aradhana’s experience and understanding of the Indian market means she is the ideal candidate to build on the great successes FremantleMedia has already enjoyed in the region while unlocking the many exciting creative and commercial opportunities it presents.”
On her appointment, Aradhana Bhola said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to spearhead the India operations at FremantleMedia. This challenge is very exciting, given the complexity and diversity of the Indian content market. In my new role, I hope to push the team’s creative and innovative vision to new heights.”
Aradhana joined FremantleMedia India in 2012 as Creative Director and was promoted to Head of Content in 2015. During her time with the company she has overseen production on titles including India’s Got Talent (Colors), Indian Idol (Sony), Covershot (National Geographic Channel), Angels of Rock (MTV) and Amra Na Ora (Star Jalsha). Prior to joining the business, Aradhana was VP Programming at Star Plus and Head of Programming at Zoom.
FremantleMedia India first opened its office in 2009 and has since ranked amongst the leaders in television content in the region. The company has produced tentpole programmes such as Indian Idol and India’s Got Talent, which continue to attract record audiences. The seventh season of Indian Idol premiered to over 9 million viewers, doubling Sony TV’s primetime average. The most recent series of India’s Got Talent peaked at 9.7 million viewers, delivered an audience 55% higher than Color’s primetime average and reached an impressive 230 million viewers across the season.
In 2016, FremantleMedia India produced its first web series, Confessions – It’s Complicated, which launched exclusively on Facebook. The online series amassed an incredible 40 million hits across the series and 11.5 million views. There were also 70,000 innovative live audience interactions with the cast. A second season is now in development.
