Asianet News
An Indian free-to-air Malayalam-language television news channel operated by the Asianet News Network.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Asianet News is an Indian free-to-air television news channel serving Malayalam-speaking audiences. It is headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and is operated by the Asianet News Network, which functions within the Jupiter Capital group. The channel is a news-media brand and should not be confused with Asianet, Asianet Plus, or Asianet Movies, the Malayalam entertainment channels now associated with JioStar. Despite the shared Asianet name, the entertainment channels and Asianet News Network are separate businesses. The channel developed from the earlier Asianet Global service. Asianet Communications had considered establishing a Malayalam news channel for some time, at a point when Malayalam television had no dedicated 24-hour news service. Asianet Global was launched in June 2001 with an international Malayalam audience in mind, particularly Malayali expatriates in the Middle East and Europe. Its programming, however, became increasingly entertainment-oriented and the service did not generate the expected returns. During a proposed transition toward an entertainment channel, the news concept was revived. Asianet Global was ultimately renamed Asianet News on 1 May 2003, following a restructuring of the channel. The brand's early development was linked to Raji Menon, who founded Asianet, Asianet Satellite Communications, and Asianet News. Menon initially held the controlling stake in the business. K. Madhavan served as managing director during the company's expansion, while Sashi Kumar, a relative of Menon and former employee, was also involved in the ownership history. Menon later bought back shares that had been transferred to Kumar and regained full control of Asianet before the subsequent change in ownership. A major ownership transition occurred in 2006, when businessman Rajeev Chandrasekhar acquired a 51 percent stake in the Asianet channels through Jupiter Entertainment Ventures. The transaction covered Asianet's general-entertainment and news operations. Madhavan continued as managing director and Chandrasekhar became chairman. The broader Asianet business later expanded into other regional television markets, including Kannada and Telugu, although those entertainment properties were distinct from the news channel's Malayalam editorial operation. Star India entered the Asianet business in 2008 and formed the Star Jupiter joint venture with Jupiter Entertainment Ventures. The transaction initially covered Asianet's general-entertainment properties and related channels, rather than transferring the Asianet News Network's editorial operations to Star control. Star India subsequently increased its ownership in the wider Asianet Communications structure and acquired full ownership of that company in 2014. The news network remained associated with Jupiter's business interests and was later operated under Jupiter Capital rather than becoming part of the JioStar entertainment-channel portfolio. Asianet News has been described by media commentators as one of the most established and trusted Malayalam news brands, with a reputation for broad reach and political coverage across Kerala. Its editorial identity has also been the subject of debate. In 2016, a leaked internal recruitment email from Jupiter Capital executive Amit Gupta reportedly encouraged the selection of editors with a right-of-centre editorial outlook and familiarity with Chandrasekhar's views on nationalism and governance. The message was withdrawn after internal editorial objections. Earlier and subsequent commentary has also described tensions between ownership interests and editorial independence, while former editor M. G. Radhakrishnan stated that he had not personally experienced management pressure. In March 2020, the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting temporarily suspended Asianet News and MediaOne TV over their coverage of the Delhi riots. The ministry alleged that the reports were biased against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Delhi Police and emphasized attacks on places of worship and one community. The suspension was revoked in the early hours of 8 March 2020. The episode became one of the most prominent regulatory controversies associated with the channel. Asianet News remains a Malayalam television news brand with a principal focus on news bulletins, political reporting, public-affairs coverage, interviews, analysis, and regional reporting. It operates in a media environment where its credibility, editorial independence, and relationship with its politically active ownership have been recurring subjects of public discussion.
History
Asianet News originated within the Asianet television business founded by Raji Menon. Asianet Communications had considered launching a dedicated Malayalam news service because Malayalam television lacked a substantial standalone news channel. The first major step toward that objective was the launch of Asianet Global in June 2001. Although the channel was designed partly for Malayali viewers living in the Middle East and Europe, it carried relatively little news and increasingly relied on film and entertainment programming. Because Asianet Global did not produce the desired commercial results, management initially planned to close it and replace it with an entertainment service. During that process, the company reconsidered the news opportunity. Reports at the time described plans for evening news programs, hourly bulletins, and a mixed schedule. Asianet Global was eventually converted into Asianet News on 1 May 2003, with the channel and its programming structure reorganized around news. The early Asianet ownership structure was closely associated with Menon. He initially held the overwhelming majority of the business, while smaller holdings were associated with his brother Raghu Nandan and his nephew Sashi Kumar. Kumar had been an employee of Asianet and received an increasing shareholding before Menon later bought back the shares and consolidated control. K. Madhavan served as managing director as the company developed its television operations. In late 2006, Rajeev Chandrasekhar entered the business through Jupiter Entertainment Ventures, acquiring a 51 percent interest in the Asianet channels. The transaction placed Chandrasekhar in the chairmanship while Madhavan continued as managing director. The investment covered the Asianet, Asianet News, and Asianet Plus operations. The wider company subsequently pursued television expansion in Kannada and Telugu, including the launch of additional regional services. Asianet was reorganized into separate corporate units in June 2008 for general entertainment, news, radio, and media infrastructure. That structure helped facilitate negotiations with Star India. In November 2008, Star India and Jupiter Entertainment Ventures established Star Jupiter after Star acquired a majority stake in Asianet Communications. Star later raised its interest in stages and completed its acquisition of Asianet Communications in 2014. The transaction history largely concerned the broader Asianet entertainment and communications businesses; the Asianet News Network remained associated with Jupiter's separate news-media structure. The channel's ownership and editorial independence became a recurring subject of public discussion. In 2016, Newslaundry and other media observers reported on a leaked email from Jupiter Capital Chief Operating Officer Amit Gupta. The message, circulated as a recruitment guideline, reportedly sought editors whose editorial tone was right of centre and who understood Chandrasekhar's views on nationalism and governance. Gupta retracted the message the following day after internal editorial resistance. M. G. Radhakrishnan, identified as a former editor-in-chief, said he had not known about the email and had not experienced management pressure. Other commentary portrayed the newsroom as having resisted attempts to direct coverage and maintained a degree of editorial autonomy despite its ownership connections. Asianet News faced a major regulatory dispute in March 2020. On 6 March, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry ordered a two-day suspension of Asianet News and MediaOne TV in connection with their reporting on the Delhi riots. The ministry alleged that the coverage was biased against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Delhi Police and that it highlighted attacks on religious sites in a manner favoring one community. The order was withdrawn at approximately 1:30 a.m. on 8 March. The Asianet News Network currently operates Asianet News alongside Suvarna News and other news-media interests under Jupiter's corporate umbrella. Asianet News continues to serve as a major Malayalam television news outlet, with programming centered on Kerala, Indian national affairs, politics, public policy, breaking news, interviews, and analysis. The Asianet name also remains present in Malayalam entertainment channels owned by JioStar, but those channels have no current corporate connection with the Asianet News Network.
- 2020
Two-day broadcast suspension
[1]The Information and Broadcasting Ministry suspended Asianet News over its coverage of the Delhi riots; the suspension was revoked on 8 March.
- 2014
Star India completed Asianet Communications acquisition
[1]Star India acquired the remaining interest in Asianet Communications, completing its ownership of that company.
- 2008
Star Jupiter joint venture formed
[1]Star India acquired a majority stake in Asianet Communications and formed a joint venture with Jupiter Entertainment Ventures.
- 2006
Jupiter Entertainment Ventures acquired control
[1]Rajeev Chandrasekhar acquired a 51 percent stake in the Asianet channel group through Jupiter Entertainment Ventures.
- 2003
Asianet Global became Asianet News
[1]On 1 May, the earlier channel was renamed Asianet News and restructured around Malayalam news programming.
- 2001
Asianet Global launched
[1]Asianet launched Asianet Global in June as a service aimed in part at Malayali expatriates in the Middle East and Europe.
Products and positioning
A widely recognized Malayalam-language television news service positioned around Kerala-focused reporting, political coverage, current affairs, and broad regional reach.
Malayalam television news channel · 2003
Asianet News
The core Asianet News brand is a free-to-air Malayalam television news service based in Thiruvananthapuram. Its programming covers Kerala politics and society, Indian national affairs, breaking news, public policy, interviews, current affairs, and news analysis. The channel developed from Asianet Global and was relaunched under its current name in 2003.
Former international Malayalam television channel · 2001
Asianet Global
Asianet Global was launched in June 2001 with an intended focus on the large Malayali expatriate audience in the Middle East and Europe. Its schedule contained relatively few news programs and moved toward film and entertainment content before the service was restructured and renamed Asianet News.
Controversies
2020
Broadcast suspension over Delhi-riot coverage
The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting suspended Asianet News and MediaOne TV for two days, alleging that their coverage of the 2020 Delhi riots was biased and critical of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Delhi Police. The order was revoked early on 8 March 2020.
2016
Editorial recruitment email controversy
A leaked email from Jupiter Capital Chief Operating Officer Amit Gupta reportedly instructed editorial leaders to consider candidates with a right-of-centre editorial tone and familiarity with Rajeev Chandrasekhar's views on nationalism and governance. Gupta retracted the message after internal editorial pushback. The episode intensified debate about ownership influence and editorial independence at Asianet News and related outlets.
Brand decisions
2013
Star India expanded its ownership to 87 percentM&ABackground
Star India continued acquiring interests connected with Asianet Communications and the wider channel group.
Action taken
Star acquired an additional interest associated with the Asianet structure, bringing its reported ownership to 87 percent.
Aftermath
The transaction was reported alongside a valuation of approximately US$1.33 billion for Asianet Communications.
Reported acquisition consideration and company valuation. Approximately US$160 million consideration; approximately US$1.33 billion valuation (June 2013)
2010
Star India increased its Asianet stakeM&ABackground
Star India continued consolidating its interest in Asianet Communications after the 2008 joint venture.
Action taken
Star India increased its stake in Asianet Communications to 75 percent.
Aftermath
The step increased Star India's control of the wider Asianet communications business.
Reported cash consideration. Approximately US$90 million (July 2010)
2008
Formed Star Jupiter with Star IndiaM&ABackground
Asianet was reorganized into separate business units and Star India began negotiations with its owners.
Action taken
Star India acquired a 51 percent stake in Asianet Communications and established the Star Jupiter joint venture with Jupiter Entertainment Ventures.
Aftermath
Star gained a major position in the broader Asianet television business, while the Asianet News Network continued to be treated as a separate news operation.
Reported cash consideration and assumed net debt. Approximately US$235 million cash plus approximately US$20 million net debt assumed (2008)
2006
Jupiter Entertainment Ventures acquired a controlling stakeM&ABackground
Asianet was a leading Malayalam television group, and Rajeev Chandrasekhar sought control of its channel portfolio.
Action taken
Jupiter Entertainment Ventures acquired a 51 percent stake in the Asianet channels, while K. Madhavan remained managing director and Chandrasekhar became chairman.
Aftermath
The transaction brought Asianet News into Chandrasekhar's Jupiter business structure and preceded later negotiations with Star India.
Reported acquisition investment. Approximately INR 120–150 crore (2006)
2003
Converted Asianet Global into a dedicated news channelStrategyBackground
Asianet Global had attracted limited returns and carried relatively little news despite the company's long-standing interest in Malayalam news broadcasting.
Action taken
Management revived the news-channel concept, restructured the service, and renamed Asianet Global as Asianet News on 1 May 2003.
Aftermath
The decision established the Asianet News brand as a dedicated Malayalam television news outlet.
Recent events
- 2008
Star India entered the Asianet channel business[1]
M&A
Star India formed the Star Jupiter joint venture with Jupiter Entertainment Ventures after acquiring a majority stake in Asianet Communications.
- 2006
Jupiter Entertainment Ventures acquired a controlling stake in Asianet channels[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Rajeev Chandrasekhar acquired a 51 percent stake in the Asianet channel group through Jupiter Entertainment Ventures.
- 2003
Asianet Global renamed Asianet News[1]
Product launch
The earlier Asianet Global service was restructured and relaunched as the Malayalam news channel Asianet News.
Sources1 sources
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