Ferzad Palia, Business Head of JioCinema, is set to step down from his role, according to sources familiar with the matter. Palia will remain with the organisation during the transition period, particularly as merger-related activities progress, to ensure a smooth handover.

Viacom18, which is in the process of merging with Star India, declined to comment on the development.

Palia has been a key figure at Viacom18 for nearly two decades, leading several consumer-facing businesses across digital and media platforms. At JioCinema, he managed both the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) and ad-supported streaming services.

Since its SVOD launch in April 2024, JioCinema has amassed nearly 20 million paid subscribers in just six months. In the ad-supported segment, Palia played a key role in JioCinema's expansion, helping to attract over 250 million monthly active users, making it one of India’s most popular streaming platforms.

Palia was instrumental in the launch of Voot Select, Viacom18’s premium streaming service, which has since been integrated into JioCinema. He also played a significant role in Viacom18’s entry into live sports, securing broadcast rights for major events like the FIFA World Cup.

Earlier in his career at Viacom18, Palia led a strategic overhaul of the company’s youth-focused brands, particularly MTV, aligning its content with evolving audience preferences. He also managed the English entertainment segment at Viacom18, overseeing the growth of channels such as Comedy Central and Colors Infinity.

With over 25 years of experience, Palia began his career at JWT (now Wunderman Thompson), a prominent advertising agency.