Anil Jayaraj Resigns as Viacom18 Sports CEO Amid Major Industry Merger

Anil Jayaraj, CEO of Viacom18 Sports, has resigned after nearly three years in the role. His departure comes as Viacom18 undergoes a significant merger with Star India, under the umbrella of Reliance Industries. Sources confirmed Jayaraj's resignation, which he submitted on Monday, although Viacom18 has yet to comment officially.

During his tenure, Jayaraj significantly expanded Viacom18's sports portfolio across television and digital platforms like Sports18 and JioCinema. Under his leadership, the company secured high-profile media rights, including those for the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Women's Premier League (WPL), and the 2024 Olympics.

Jayaraj's strategic vision helped JioCinema disrupt the sports broadcasting market by offering free sports streaming, making digital platforms a preferred medium for live sports in India. Before joining Viacom18, Jayaraj was the head of ad sales at Disney Star's sports network, Star Sports, and played a key role in the monetization strategy for seven IPL seasons.

Jayaraj's career spans almost 27 years, during which he held top marketing positions at BP and Castrol and served as chief marketing officer at Pidilite Industries. His resignation marks a significant shift in the sports media landscape as Viacom18 and Star India integrate their operations.