Anil Jayaraj, who recently stepped down as CEO of sports at Viacom18, has concluded his nearly three-year tenure, as confirmed by sources familiar with the situation. His resignation coincides with Viacom18’s merger proceedings with Star India, backed by Reliance Industries. Sources close to the matter indicated that Jayaraj submitted his resignation on Monday. At the time of publication, queries directed to Viacom18 regarding Jayaraj’s departure remained unanswered.
During his tenure as CEO, Jayaraj oversaw a significant expansion of Viacom18’s sports business, both on traditional television platforms and through digital channels such as Sports18 and JioCinema. His strategic efforts led Viacom18 to secure major sports rights, including digital broadcasting rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL), media rights for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), rights for the Women’s Premier League (WPL), and coverage rights for the 2024 Olympics.
Under Jayaraj’s leadership, JioCinema, a subsidiary of Viacom18, revolutionized the sports broadcasting landscape by offering free sports streaming, thereby establishing digital platforms as the preferred medium for live sports viewing across India. His initiatives reflected a keen understanding of evolving consumer preferences in the digital age.
Prior to his role at Viacom18, Jayaraj served as the Head of Advertising Sales at Star Sports, a part of Disney Star’s sports network. His contributions were pivotal in shaping monetization strategies for seven editions of the IPL, reinforcing its status as India’s foremost media property in terms of popularity and revenue generation.
Before entering the sports industry, Jayaraj held senior marketing positions at Pidilite Industries, BP, and Castrol, amassing a wealth of experience over a career spanning nearly 27 years. His departure from Viacom18 marks the end of a transformative chapter in the company’s sports division, leaving a legacy of strategic advancements and significant acquisitions in the realm of sports media rights and digital innovation.