Republic TV controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile6 entries
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.
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.
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.
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.
2020
Ofcom fines Republic TV over hate speech broadcast
Fine or penalty
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.
Ofcom imposed a £20,000 fine on Republic TV after finding that a broadcast contained expressions of hatred and promoted intolerance toward Pakistani people.
Company response
Remediation — Republic TV
The Republic TV told Ofcom that it shouldn’t be slapped with a fine and promised that no live discussion on India-Pakistan issues will be aired in future unless reviewed and edited first to comply with UK's laws
Source excerpt
Ofcom said: “We considered these statements to be expressions of hatred based on intolerance of Pakistani people based on their nationality alone, and that the broadcast of these statements spread, incited, promoted and justified such intolerance towards Pakistani people among viewers.
The fine has been imposed after the British media regulator found an episode of a show — Poochta Hai Bharat — hosted by controversial anchor Arnab Goswami containing hate speech against the people of Pakistan.
Ofcom told this correspondent in a statement: “We concluded that this was a serious breach of our rules which warranted the imposition of statutory sanctions. These include: a financial penalty of £20,000, payable to HM Paymaster General; a direction not to repeat the programme; and a direction to broadcast a statement of our findings on a date – and in a form - to be determined by Ofcom.”
2020
Republic TV apologizes for broadcast error
Company response
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.
Company response
Apology — Republic TV
Republic TV unconditionally apologises to Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri for the same.
Source excerpt
Arnab Goswami’s Republic TV on Sunday issued a rare apology after being accused of hurting the sentiments of Muslims with a piece of fake news, which was hugely provocative in nature.
it was an inadvertent error, the video editor concerned carried the wrong image which was wrongly broadcast once & immediately corrected.
Republic TV unconditionally apologises to Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri for the same.