News Broadcasting

Arnab NOW wants to challenge BBC and CNN International

Published

9 years ago

October 20, 2016

MUMBAI: “No news is good news. No journalists is even better”, so said Nicolas Clerihew Bentley, British author and illustrator, best known for his humorous cartoon drawings in books and magazines in the 1930s and 1940s. In India Bentley, probably, would have been proved wrong as Indians — at least a large swathe of the population — just cannot do without news and certainly not without Arnab Goswami.

You can hate him, you can love him, you can call him names or you can even say he’s God’s gift to Indian TV journalism, but you just cannot ignore him. And, why not? That’s a question that the nation wants to knowdespite debating it on social media everyday. From being the quintessential outsider to be the top of the pops as the most watched television news anchor on Indian television, it has been a roller-coaster of a ride.

From the point Times NOW was considered a laughing stock soon after it debuted in 2006, to becoming the undisputed leader in the news industry, Arnab’s contributions behind the channel’s success cannot be neglected. Just like a global food brand was born when an experimentation in the kitchen went haywire by accident, it was another such accident — some would say twist of fate — that gave India a TV news anchor who’s loathed as much as he’s revered during his daily news show called Newshour, which actually runs beyond an hour.

Not only Arnab quit print journalism with the Kolkata-based The Telegraph after just a stint of leas than a year in 1995 to come to India’s capital city, but he also quit Delhi a few years later to migrate to Mumbai, leaving one of India’s famous nursery for news journalism, NDTV, to take up an assignment with the Times of India group’s TV venture. So much so, at one of time, Arnab wanted to quit journalism altogether.

Yes, you read it right. Arnab wanted to leave journalism. “I wanted to leave journalism 12 years back when I was in Delhi. That is one city that will ruin your courage and leave you with two options — either quit or to be crazy. I chose the latter,” he asserted at the EEMAX Global Conclave & Awards 2016 to gasps from the swooning audience, comprising mostly young people aspiring to be TV journalists.

But happy accidents do happen.

Feeling blessed to be capable of reaching out to millions every night, Arnab doesn’t shy away from goof-ups or life’s low points. “I did mess up for the initial six months in Times NOW, “ he admitted frankly, “but, the experiences of taking up people’s stories and making the ordinary person a headline and championing him (or her), fundamentally made me realise that one needs to finally go down to the core.”

India’s most watched TV news anchor — audience measurement data has proved that time and again — can also afford to be preachy when he asserts for him there’s no shades of grey (forget the 50 shades) but just

right and wrong. “In everything in life, you have to bring it down to the binary. Don’t tell me about the grey areas. Those people who reside in the grey areas are those who are fooling themselves and won’t stick their necks out. Running down my republic (read country) is wrong and I will stick my neck out (to defend it),” he added, which many critics feel is just being pompous.

Often accused of ruining neutrality of news or the non-partisan approach that journalists and news anchor should champion as per gospel, for Arnab neutrality in news is baseless. “I have not dumbed down journalism. Each story that I have done runs a personal risk on me. Behind what seems engrossing, is a lot of heart, a lot of feeling, a lot of soul, a lot of idealism and a lot of risk,” he explained, adding, “Oh boy, did we hear some glasses breaking at some homes of people whom Arnab loves to refer as the `Lutyen Delhi’s privileged lot’.”?

And, true to his on-screen style — where he shouts down panellists who return to his shows despite being shut out at times — Arnab thrashed the English news media in India by accusing it of alienating people. “They used language that is only available in a dictionary, editorial meetings happened in a sacred space where there is no communication with people outside. When analytical programmes are done, there are more people from abroad than from your own country and they speak in a language that nobody understands. That is what English language journalism had done over the years,”he makes his intentions clear, adding with satisfaction, “But the country is seeing a change.”

There are innumerable anecdotes about Arnab, his style, his posturing on TV and, yes, also his arrogance, but those don’t faze the man who seems to be on a mission.

Recently, Mukesh Ambani, considered one of the most powerful men in India with diversified interests in many businesses, including media, was asked for his views on noisy TV shows and, predictably, the shows he watched at 9 pm. The Reliance Industries boss said, “I watch Arnab and I like him very much.” So what does Arnab feel about such encomiums about him being an influencer and opinion moulder? “I am happy to know that. There is no responsibility that I have on me. If anyone wants to listen, I don’t bring my ego in the way. I do a story and move on,” he dead-panned.

There is also an incident that he himself recollected when Delhi’s incumbent chief minister Arvind Kejriwal asked him a reason for not supporting him or his cause to which Ornob (one of the many names by which he’s referred to on social media) had counter-punched that Kejriwal was a marketing genius.

He has also been questioned about the way he conducted his interview with the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and how he was very `soft’ and `docile’, unlike the fiery role that he essays on Times NOW. But, Arnab sees no problem with such an approach: “Most people have a problem with that interview. They want me to call the PM as Mr. Narendra Modi, but I am a journalist. When you have eight boxes open on a screen (with panellists), I have to shout to be heard. But, when you are doing a one on one, you don’t have to shout.”

That is why when Arnab professed his love for a free media and his dream, one naturally has to do a double take. “I dream of an independent media with a capital `I’and the word underlined,” he highlighted and added that he wished to merge the independent media with the digital with an aim to bring the power of TV directly to the people while breaking the clutter at the same time. In his own words: “All this has to be achieved in the next three years. We will challenge BBC and CNN (International), and there should be no reason why we will not be able to do it.”

Considering Arnab has a view on almost everything and anything — good researchers, notwithstanding — his advice to budding entrepreneurs at a conclave was, in fact, quite simple and straight: “Accept your faults, build partnerships, do not compromise on your ethics and do not have too many plans. Most importantly, do not let your ego come in the middle of your dream.” Touche!

No wonder such simplicity at times, which may look so unlike most of his Newshour shows, leads his friends and colleagues to support him. Speaking to indiantelevision.com, Partho Dasgupta, a former colleague of Arnab at Times TV Network and now the chief executive of BARC, said, “Am very happy to see him succeed in the news business that is not easy. Beyond our professional lives, I know him more personally and know how good a human being he is.”

Despite the seeming on-screen pompousness and arrogance, Arnab must be connecting with professionals, friends and audience at some level. At least the data, popularity (his critics call it notoriety) and personal vouching indicate to that.

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News Broadcasting

Barc forensic audit in TRP row awaits as Twenty-Four probe gathers pace

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

KERALA: A forensic audit commissioned by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has emerged as the centrepiece of the government’s response to fresh allegations of television rating point manipulation involving a regional news channel in Kerala, with both the audit findings and a parallel police investigation still awaited.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan, said Barc had appointed an independent agency to conduct a forensic probe into the conduct of senior personnel allegedly linked to the case.

The move followed media reports claiming that a Barc employee had accepted bribes to manipulate viewership data in favour of a regional television news channel.

“The report from BARC is still awaited,” Murugan told Parliament, signalling that the forensic exercise remains ongoing.

Industry specialists say forensic audits are crucial in alleged TRP fraud cases, as they examine internal controls, data access trails, panel household integrity, staff communications and financial transactions. The outcome could determine whether the alleged manipulation was an isolated breach or a deeper systemic weakness in India’s television measurement framework.

Running alongside the audit, the Kerala Police has formed a special investigation team to probe the allegations. The ministry has sought a preliminary report from the state’s director general of police, including details of action taken on the first information report. That report, too, is yet to be submitted.

The episode has revived long-standing concerns over the vulnerability of India’s TRP system, particularly in regional news markets where competition for ratings is fierce and advertising revenues hinge on weekly viewership rankings.

India’s sole television audience measurement body Barc, has faced scrutiny before, most notably during the nationwide TRP controversy involving news channels in 2020. While tighter compliance norms were introduced in the aftermath, the latest allegations suggest enforcement challenges may persist.

On regulatory consequences, the government said any punitive action against television channels, including suspension or cancellation of uplinking and downlinking permissions, would be governed by the Policy Guidelines for Uplinking and Downlinking of Television Channels issued in November 2022, and would depend on investigation outcomes and due process.

The ministry also pointed to ongoing efforts to overhaul the ratings ecosystem. Television measurement continues to be regulated under the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies, 2014. Draft amendments were released for public consultation in July 2025, followed by a revised version in November 2025, aimed at tightening audit mechanisms and improving transparency and representativeness.

In November 2025, Barc said it had taken note of allegations aired by Malayalam news channel Twenty-Four, which linked an internal employee to irregularities in audience measurement. The council said it had engaged a “reputed independent agency” to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit, underscoring the seriousness of the claims.

The ratings system sits at the heart of India’s broadcast advertising economy, shaping billions of rupees in annual ad spends. With trust in audience data once again under strain, advertisers, broadcasters and regulators are closely watching the outcome of the investigations.

Barc has urged industry stakeholders and media organisations to exercise restraint while the probe is underway, calling for an end to “unverified or speculatory claims” and reiterating its commitment to integrity and accountability.

Until the forensic audit and police findings are submitted and reviewed, the government said it would refrain from drawing conclusions.

News Broadcasting

Rajat Sharma defamation row: Delhi court summons Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has ordered the summoning of senior Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh in a criminal case filed by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma, sharpening a legal battle over alleged defamation and doctored digital content.

The order was passed on Monday by Devanshi Janmeja, judicial magistrate first class at Saket Courts, after the court found prima facie grounds to proceed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including forgery, creation of false electronic records and defamation.

Sharma, chairman and editor-in-chief of India TV, had approached the court over allegations made in June 2024 that he had used derogatory language against Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak during a live television debate. He denied the charge, claiming it was fuelled by a manipulated video circulated online.

According to the complaint, a clipped version of the broadcast carrying superimposed captions, which were not part of the original programme, was first shared on social media platform X by Nayak and later amplified through retweets and public statements by Khera and Ramesh. Sharma said the viral spread caused serious reputational harm and personal distress.

The court took note of forensic science laboratory findings that pointed to visible post-production alterations in the video, including added titles and captions. It also cited witness testimonies from those present during the live broadcast, who stated that no abusive or objectionable language had been used.

In a related civil matter, the Delhi High Court had earlier observed a prima facie absence of abusive remarks and directed the removal of the disputed social media posts.

With criminal proceedings now set in motion, the case adds to mounting scrutiny around political messaging, digital manipulation and accountability on social media platforms.

News Broadcasting

Mukesh Ambani, Larry Fink come together for CNBC-TV18 exclusive

Reliance and BlackRock chiefs map the future of investing as global capital eyes India

Published

2 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: India’s capital story takes centre stage today as Mukesh Ambani and Larry Fink sit down for a rare joint television conversation, bringing together two of the most powerful voices in global business at a moment of economic churn and opportunity.

The Reliance Industries chief and the BlackRock boss will speak with Shereen Bhan, managing editor of CNBC-TV18, in an exclusive interaction airing from 3:00 pm on February 4. The timing is deliberate. Geopolitics are tense, technology is disruptive and capital is choosier. India, meanwhile, is pitching itself as a long-term bet.

The pairing is symbolic. Reliance straddles energy transition, digital infrastructure and consumer growth in the world’s fastest-expanding major economy. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, oversees more than $14 tn in assets and sits at the nerve centre of global capital flows. When the two talk, markets tend to listen.

Fink’s appearance marks his third India visit, a signal of the country’s rising strategic weight for the Wall Street-listed firm, which carries a market value above $177 bn. His earlier 2023 trips included an October stop in New Delhi, where he met both Ambani and Narendra Modi.

India is now central to BlackRock’s expansion plans, notably through its joint venture with Jio Financial Services. Announced in July 2023, the 50:50 venture, JioBlackRock, commits up to $150 mn each from the partners to build a digital-first asset-management platform aimed at India’s swelling investor class.

The backdrop is robust. BlackRock ended 2025 with record assets under management of $14.04 tn, helped by $698 bn in net inflows, including $342 bn in the fourth quarter alone. Scale gives Fink both heft and a long lens on where money is moving.

He has been openly bullish on India. At the Saudi-US Investment Summit in Riyadh last year, Fink argued that the “fog of global uncertainty is lifting”, with capital returning to dynamic markets such as India, drawn by reforms, demographics and durable return potential.

Expect the conversation to range beyond balance sheets, into technology’s role in finance, access to capital and the mechanics of sustainable growth in a fracturing world order. For investors and policymakers alike, it is a snapshot of how big money is thinking about India.

At a time when capital is cautious and growth is contested, India wants to be the exception. When Ambani and Fink share a stage, it is less a chat and more a signal. The world’s money is still looking for its next big story, and India intends to be it.