Republic TV

Corporate brand

An Indian English-language television news channel known for assertive, nationalist and right-leaning political coverage.

Last updated October 28, 2026

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Overview

Republic TV is an Indian English-language television news channel launched in May 2017. It was founded by journalist and broadcaster Arnab Goswami and entrepreneur-politician Rajeev Chandrasekhar, with investment associated with Asianet News and other backers. The channel emerged after Goswami left Times Now in late 2016, citing disagreements over editorial freedom and newsroom practices. It was initially announced under the name Republic, but adopted the Republic TV name after objections to the proposed title. The channel launched as a free-to-air service distributed through Indian cable and direct-to-home networks, as well as digital and mobile platforms. Its programming has centered on breaking news, political debate, investigations, national security, crime, elections and highly confrontational prime-time opinion shows. Goswami's role as editor-in-chief and principal on-air personality has been central to the channel's identity. The network has presented itself as an alternative to established English-language broadcasters and has emphasized patriotic, anti-corruption and pro-national-interest themes. Republic TV's editorial style has attracted substantial audience attention as well as sustained criticism. Academic commentators, journalists and media-monitoring organizations have described its coverage as strongly supportive of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Narendra Modi government, while portraying opposition parties and critics in a negative manner. Critics have also accused the channel of using sensationalism, aggressive debate formats, communalized framing and Islamophobic rhetoric. Supporters regard its combative presentation as a form of outspoken journalism that challenges political and institutional elites. The brand expanded into Hindi television with Republic Bharat in February 2019 and into Bengali broadcasting with Republic Bangla in March 2021. Its wider digital presence operates under the Republic World identity. The organization has also been involved in disputes with professional and regulatory bodies, including complaints concerning broadcast standards, audience-measurement practices and alleged manipulation of television ratings. Republic TV has denied wrongdoing in the ratings matter and has argued that some regulatory actions were politically motivated or outside the proper authority of the bodies involved. The channel has additionally faced litigation and criticism relating to defamation, intellectual-property use, alleged misinformation and the presentation of unverified claims. Examples cited by reference sources include a false report using video-game footage as supposed evidence of Pakistani military support for Taliban forces, the reporting of a satirical social-media thread as an alleged coup in China, and a 2023 report about a supposed Pentagon explosion that relied on an AI-generated image. In the latter case, Republic TV issued a correction. Republic TV remains an active Indian news-media brand with television and digital operations, though its editorial conduct and influence remain subjects of continuing public debate.

History

Republic TV developed from Arnab Goswami's departure from Times Now in November 2016. Goswami said he was leaving because of editorial disagreements, limited freedom and newsroom politics. His final Times Now edition of The Newshour Debate followed an earlier Ofcom finding that the programme had breached impartiality requirements by giving inadequate opportunity to some guests to speak. In December 2016, Goswami announced a new news venture initially called Republic. Complaints about the name led to the adoption of Republic TV. The project was funded partly through Asianet-associated investment linked to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, alongside capital attributed to Goswami, his wife Samyabrata Goswami and investors associated with SARG Media Holding. Chandrasekhar had political links to the BJP before formally joining the party in 2018. He later left the board and relinquished his stake in May 2019, after which the venture was described as editor-controlled. The channel launched on 6 May 2017 with distribution through cable, direct-to-home television and mobile platforms. It recruited personnel from across Indian television and print media, including finance, business, editorial and on-air specialists. From the outset, its programming emphasized live political confrontation, rapid breaking-news coverage and Goswami's prominent editorial presence. Republic TV soon became a major participant in India's intensely competitive English-news market. Audience claims surrounding its early performance were disputed. The channel was reported as having quickly achieved a leading position in English news, while rival broadcasters and industry bodies alleged that its distribution and electronic-program-guide listings generated unfair or inflated impressions. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India cautioned the channel over alleged practices involving multiple feeds and genre placements. Later allegations concerning television-rating manipulation led to a Mumbai Police investigation in 2020 and wider scrutiny of India's audience-measurement system. The network expanded in stages. Republic Bharat began Hindi broadcasting on 2 February 2019, while Republic Bangla launched on 7 March 2021. These services complemented the Republic World digital operation and broadened the brand beyond its original English channel. Editorially, Republic TV has been identified by critics as a right-wing or pro-government broadcaster. Its coverage has been associated with support for the BJP and Hindutva politics, intense criticism of opposition parties and the promotion of nationalist frames involving Pakistan, Kashmir, security and dissent. Commentators have connected the channel with expressions such as “Urban Naxal” and “tukde tukde gang,” and have criticized its treatment of communal issues and its use of Islamophobic narratives. Other assessments have compared its confrontational political style with Fox News, while some writers have used more severe comparisons concerning its proximity to government power. The brand has also faced legal and regulatory disputes. In 2017, Shashi Tharoor sued over broadcasts concerning Sunanda Pushkar's death. Bennett Coleman & Co. filed a complaint alleging that former Times Now employees used audio material and other intellectual property in Republic broadcasts. The News Broadcasting Standards Authority ordered apologies in matters involving offensive descriptions and alleged racial or religious stereotyping; Republic TV challenged or declined to follow those orders and subsequently participated in the formation of the National Broadcasting Federation. The channel has also been criticized for inaccurate reports, including an incorrectly identified video-game clip in coverage of Afghanistan, a satirical thread treated as news about China, and an AI-generated image used in a Pentagon explosion report. Republic TV corrected the Pentagon report.

2021
Republic Bangla launches
[1]Republic TVen.wikipedia.org
The network added a Bengali-language news channel.
2019
Republic Bharat launches
[1]Republic TVen.wikipedia.org
The brand entered Hindi television news.
2017
Republic TV begins broadcasting
[1]Republic TVen.wikipedia.org
The channel launched on 6 May as a free-to-air Indian English-language news service.
2016
Arnab Goswami leaves Times Now
[1]Republic TVen.wikipedia.org
Goswami resigned from Times Now and announced a new television-news venture later that year.

Products and positioning

A high-intensity, nationalist and right-leaning news brand focused on breaking news, political confrontation, national security and strong editorial opinion.

English television news · 2017
Republic TV
The flagship English-language news channel, offering rolling news, political debate, investigations, election coverage, national-security reporting and opinion-led prime-time programming. Its identity is closely associated with Arnab Goswami's direct and combative presentation style.
Hindi television news · 2019
Republic Bharat
The Hindi-language television service launched to extend the Republic brand to the country's largest language audience. It carries news, political discussion, public-affairs coverage and breaking-news programming.
Bengali television news · 2021
Republic Bangla
A Bengali-language news channel serving audiences in West Bengal and Bengali-speaking markets, with regional, national and political coverage under the Republic editorial identity.
Digital news · 2017
Republic World
The network's digital news identity and website, distributing written reports, live video, clips and television-linked coverage across web and mobile channels.

Controversies

2023
AI-generated Pentagon explosion image
The channel aired a report about an alleged Pentagon-area explosion based on a misleading online post containing an AI-generated image and subsequently issued a correction.
Source
2022
Satirical China coup thread reported as breaking news
Republic TV treated a sarcastic social-media thread by journalist Georg Fahrion as evidence of a political coup involving Xi Jinping, later removing the reports from its YouTube channel.
Source
2021
Misidentified video-game footage in Afghanistan coverage
The channel broadcast footage from the video game Arma 3 as if it showed Pakistani military support for Taliban forces during the fighting around Panjshir.
Source
2020
Television-rating manipulation allegations
Mumbai Police investigated allegations that Republic TV and other channels used improper methods, including inducements and distribution practices, to inflate audience ratings. Republic TV denied the allegations and said the investigation was retaliatory.
Source
2020
Ofcom fines Republic TV over hate speech broadcast
In December 2020, the British media regulator Ofcom fined Republic TV £20,000 over a broadcast. Ofcom found that the programme contained expressions of hatred and promoted intolerance toward Pakistani people. The regulator's finding concerned the content of the broadcast, and the fine was imposed as a result. The event was reported by The News, which described the penalty as being for hate speech against Pakistanis.
Source
2020
Republic TV apologizes for broadcast error
Republic TV issued an apology after being accused of falsely accusing Maulana Jalaluddin Umri of being a terrorist and broadcasting the wrong image. The channel said the image error was inadvertent and had been corrected.
Source

2021
Launch Republic BanglaProduct launch
Background
The network continued its language expansion into regional television news.
Action taken
It launched a Bengali-language channel.
Aftermath
Republic gained a Bengali regional-news presence.
Source
2019
Launch Republic BharatProduct launch
Background
The network sought to broaden its reach beyond English-language television.
Action taken
It introduced a Hindi-language news channel under the Republic brand.
Aftermath
The launch established a Hindi television outlet alongside the original English channel.
Source
2019
Goswami reacquires Asianet-associated stakeM&A
Background
Rajeev Chandrasekhar left the board after joining the BJP and relinquished his investment position.
Action taken
Goswami bought back the Asianet-associated shares.
Aftermath
The venture was described as editor-controlled rather than jointly backed by Chandrasekhar.
Source

Recent events

2021
Republic Bangla launches[1]Republic TVen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
The network launched a Bengali-language news channel, extending its regional-language television portfolio.
2019
Republic Bharat launches[1]Republic TVen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
Republic TV expanded into Hindi-language television with Republic Bharat.
2019
Rajeev Chandrasekhar exits Republic TV investment[1]Republic TVen.wikipedia.org
Leadership change · M&A
After Chandrasekhar joined the BJP, he resigned from the board and Goswami bought back Asianet-associated shares, according to reference material.
2017
Republic TV launches in India[1]Republic TVen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
The English-language channel began broadcasting as a free-to-air service through Indian television distributors and digital platforms.
2017
Shashi Tharoor files defamation case against Republic TV[1]Republic TVen.wikipedia.org
Lawsuit
Shashi Tharoor brought a civil defamation action concerning broadcasts linking him to the death of Sunanda Pushkar. The Delhi High Court urged the channel to reduce rhetoric and avoid personal name-calling.

Sources5 sources

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