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Times Now
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Times Now is an English-language news channel in India owned and operated by The Times Group. The channel launched on 23 January 2006 in partnership with Reuters.[1][2]
Key Information
It is a pay television throughout India. Until 2016, it was India's most popular and the most viewed English news channel.[3][4][5]
The channel is widely seen as supportive of Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party.[6][7]
Times Now has been criticised for reporting misinformation.[8][9]
History
[edit]In 2016 Arnab Goswami (the earlier editor-in-chief) left the channel to launch Republic TV; S. Sundaram, who had served as the CFO for Times Now between 2005 and 2012, was named the Group CFO.[10] Goswami resigned as editor-in-chief of Times Now on 1 November 2016, citing editorial differences, lack of freedom and newsroom politics.[11][12] He hosted the last edition of his show,[13] The Newshour Debate, a fortnight later.[14][15] This came after the show had been subject to an investigation by Ofcom, the UK broadcasting regulatory authority, in August and September; the investigation had held Times Now guilty of violating the impartiality clause of its broadcast code, stating that Goswami had presented without impartiality, including sometimes not letting his panellists speak at all.[16]
In May 2017, The Times Group lodged a complaint against Goswami and Prema Sridevi, a journalist with Republic TV, under the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act, 2000 accusing them of copyright infringement.[17] BCCL alleged that the two, previously employed with Times Now, that it owns and operates, had used its intellectual property (IP) in telecasting certain audio tapes that were in their possession during their time at the channel. Alongside IP infringement, the complaint also alleged the commission of offenses of theft, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of property, on the two, on multiple occasions days after the channel's launch.[18][19][needs update]
Times India eventually expanded the Times Now into a news network:
| Channel | Language | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Times Now | English | News |
| Times Now World | ||
| Mirror Now | ||
| ET Now | ||
| Times Now NavBharat | Hindi | |
| ET Now Swadesh |
Distribution
[edit]Along with the other Times group channels (Zoom, ET Now and Movies Now), Times Now is distributed by Media Network and Distribution (India) Ltd (MNDIL), which is a joint venture between The Times Group and Yogesh Radhakrishnan, a cable and satellite industry veteran, under the brand Prime Connect.[20]
Employees
[edit]- Rahul Shivshankar – Editor-in-chief [21] (till January, 2023)[22]
- Navika Kumar – Group editor [23]
- Maroof Raza – Consultant and strategic affairs expert[24]
Lawsuits
[edit]On 15 November 2011, in the country's highest defamation suit, the Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court's order requiring Times Now to pay ₹100 crore. The channel had erroneously run the picture of Supreme Court judge P.B. Sawant picture instead of someone similarly named as part of a Provident Fund scandal, and the payment went directly to Sawant.[25]
In 2018, Times Now aired derogatory remarks about activist Sanjukta Basu. She filed a complaint with the News Broadcasting Standards Authority in March 2019. In October 2020, she moved Supreme Court claiming that her case was pending with NBSA. Before the case could be listed for hearing in the Supreme court, NBSA released the judgement on her complaint. NBSA ordered Times Now to air apology on live TV at 8PM and 9PM during the prime time and submit DVD copies of the same. NBSA found that Times Now had not contacted Basu to get her version and failed to verify the facts before broadcasting. This conduct was judged to be a violation of NBSA guidelines. The NBSA order noted that "there was an absence of neutrality in the programme".[26]
Controversies
[edit]Violation of Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards
[edit]Times Now was accused of misrepresenting facts regarding an interview of an alleged eve teaser.[27] The News Broadcasting Standards Authority asked Times Now to apologize and fined them ₹50,000.[28][29][30][31]
The National Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) reprimanded the channel for a bias in their coverage of the Tablighi Jamaat congregation on 23 June 2016 for violating the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards.[32][33]
2020 Delhi riots
[edit]In 2021, the National Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) found that debates by two Times Now anchors – Rahul Shivshankar and Padmaja Joshi on the topic 2020 Delhi riots were not conducted in an "impartial and objective manner". NBDSA found that the anchors had "violated the Fundamental Principles as enumerated in the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards and various Guidelines issued by NBDSA". In his order NBDSA chairperson Justice (retired) A.K. Sikri directed Times Now to take down videos of from YouTube and websites. NBDSA had ordered this responding to the complaint filed against Shivshankar accusing him of selectively showing the observations of the courts and the police to make it appear as if the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protestors were responsible for the religious violence. The order quoted, "The coverage was done to target a community that is critical of the Delhi Police's investigation and project them and their critique in a negative light, thereby unduly hindering the right of the viewer to have a fact based view on the matter and amounted to a sustained campaign to challenge a position, without intimating to the viewers what that position is in its entirety or allowing panellists to explain the same".[34]
2020–2021 China–India skirmishes
[edit]In June 2020, during a broadcast, Group Editor Navika Kumar reported that 30 Chinese soldiers had been killed in the Galwan Valley clash and read out names that were later identified as fabricated.[35][36]
Reception
[edit]The channel is accused of practicing biased reporting in favour of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is included among pro-Narendra Modi "Godi media" outlets.[37][38][7][39]
Alt News accused Times Now in 2018 of repeatedly reporting "unverified claims, distorted facts and plain lies", including taking video clips out of context.[8] In 2022, Alt News wrote that they found Times Now to be one of the most prominent sharers of misinformation in the Indian media that year.[9]
According to a 2022 BBC News article, several Indian news anchors including Times Now's Shivshankar are known to shout down their panelists and ranting during their show, and have been accused of bias towards India's governing party, Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[40]
In 2020, Newslaundry reported that Shivshankar had used several dog whistles to negatively portray the Indian Muslims.[41]
On 6 September 2021, Times Now was criticised for a report using video that suggested a Pakistan Air Force jet was hovering over Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley. The video was soon revealed to be a United States Air Force F-15 jet filmed by a YouTube airplane enthusiast in Wales filming the jet within the Mach Loop three months before.[42]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Daya Kishan Thussu (9 January 2008). News as Entertainment: The Rise of Global Infotainment. SAGE Publications. pp. 100–. ISBN 978-1-84787-506-8. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Chandran, Bipin (14 June 2013). "Reuters to pay $19 mn for 26% in Times Now". Bipin Chandran. Business Standard. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Maheshwari, Pradyuman (6 February 2016). "Can any English news channel beat the just turned 10 Times Now?". Pradyuman Maheshwari. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Boria Majumdar; Nalin Mehta (7 May 2009). India and the Olympics. Routledge. pp. 9–. ISBN 978-1-135-27575-4. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "India's Times Now news channel to launch in UK". James Crabtre. Financial Times. 15 November 2015. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Bhat, Prashanth; Chadha, Kalyani (3 April 2023). "Expanding public debate? Examining the impact of India's top English language political talk shows". Media Asia. 50 (2): 244–263. doi:10.1080/01296612.2022.2140953. ISSN 0129-6612.
- ^ a b Madan, Aman (23 January 2019). "India's Not-So-Free Media". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ a b Jawed, Sam (13 February 2018). "A compilation of Times Now's experiments with untruth". Alt News.
- ^ a b Team, N. L. (4 January 2023). "Among media outlets, Times Group, Zee shared most misinformation in 2022: Alt News". Newslaundry. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Dingdong Contest between DD India and Republic TV in English News Genre Archived 13 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Television India
- ^ Srikrishna, Vasupradha (1 September 2019). "Neoliberal Media Making the Public Interest and Public Choice Theory Obsolete: Need for a New Theory" (PDF). Media Watch. 10 (3). doi:10.15655/mw/2019/v10i3/49692. ISSN 2249-8818.
- ^ Team, BS Web (27 March 2017). "Arnab Goswami gets candid: Was not even allowed to enter Times Now studio". Business Standard India. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ Ayres, Alyssa (5 December 2017). Our Time Has Come: How India is Making Its Place in the World. Oxford University Press. pp. 34, 81. ISBN 9780190494537.
- ^ "Arnab Goswami's new venture". Business Standard. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ "Arnab Goswami announces new venture; Times Now gets a new chief editor". Firstpost. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
- ^ Venkataramakrishnan, Shoaib Daniyal & Rohan (27 April 2017). "'Proud of all my partners': Arnab Goswami when asked about BJP influence in new venture". Scroll.in. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
- ^ "Times Now files criminal case for stealing against Arnab Goswami of Republic TV". The Economic Times. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ "Arnab Goswami faces police complaint for 'cheating' Times Now over Sunanda Pushkar, Lalu tapes". Daily News and Analysis. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- ^ Team, BS Web (17 May 2017). "Times Group files criminal complaint against Arnab Goswami for IPR breach". Business Standard. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ "BCCL floats TV distribution joint venture". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014.
- ^ "Rahul Shivshankar appointed as Chief Editor of TIMES NOW". The Economic Times. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ Staff, T. N. M. (20 June 2023). "Rahul Shivshankar quits as Times Now Editor-in-chief". The News Minute. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ "Navika Kumar appointed Times Network Group editor". 📢 Newslaundry. 19 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ "Times Now censured for not revealing defence analyst's business interests". indianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ "SC asks Times Now to deposit Rs 100 crore before HC takes up its appeal in defamation case". Times of India. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ Scroll Staff (25 October 2020). "Times Now asked to air apology to activist for derogatory remarks during 2018 debate". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Bhardwaj, Ananya (11 September 2018). "Why Delhi woman behind viral post on 'molestation' didn't appear in court for 3 years". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "Times Now fined, asked to apologize for intimidating reporting in Jasleen Kaur story". The News Minute. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
- ^ Bansal, Shuchi (15 March 2016). "NBSA asks Times Now to issue apology, pay fine for a story". Mint. Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
- ^ Ajmal, Zaheeb (26 October 2019). "'Times Now, will you issue public apology now', ask Twitterati after Sarvjeet Singh is acquitted by court". National Herald. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ Jagmohan, Aakruti (17 March 2016). "NBSA Asks Times Now to Apologise, Pay Fine for Jasleen Kaur Story". TheQuint. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- ^ "NBSA reprimands three TV channels over Tablighi Jamaat reports". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "NBSA fines News18 Kannada, Suvarna News, censures Times Now". Deccanherald. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Two of Times Now's Debates on Delhi Riots Were Not Impartial, Objective: NBDSA". The Wire. 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ AltNews.in, Pooja Chaudhuri (18 June 2020). "Ladakh clash: Times Now falls for fake WhatsApp list naming 30 dead Chinese soldiers". Scroll.in. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Pooja (17 June 2020). "Times Now falls for fake WhatsApp forward listing names of 30 dead Chinese soldiers". Alt News. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ Priyadarshini, Anna (2 December 2020). "TV channels double down". Newslaundry. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Farmers are angry with 'Godi Media' for demonising them. TV channels double down". Newslaundry. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ Yadav, Puneet Nicholas (2 March 2020). "Are Newsrooms Run By Political Masters? Why Are Editors Compromising On Truth Telling? | Outlook India Magazine". Outlook. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "'I am Mr McAdams': TV anchor Rahul Shivshankar yells at wrong man on Ukraine live". BBC News. 4 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ S, Meghnad (3 June 2020). "When Rahul Shivshankar used Black Lives Matter to bash Muslims, as usual". Newslaundry. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Pooja; Pathan, Aqib (6 September 2021). "Times Now airs video from UK as Pakistani fighter jet in Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan". alt news. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
External links
[edit]Times Now
View on GrokipediaHistory
Launch and Initial Operations (2006–2010)
Times Now, an English-language 24-hour news channel owned by Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (The Times Group), launched on January 31, 2006, as India's first dedicated urban-focused English news broadcaster.[8] The venture was established through The Times Global Broadcasting Company Limited, with Reuters acquiring a 26% equity stake in April 2005 to provide global news expertise and content support, targeting an initial urban audience amid growing competition in the English news genre.[9] Arnab Goswami served as the channel's founding editor-in-chief and lead anchor, shaping its aggressive, debate-driven format from inception, including the flagship prime-time program The Newshour Debate.[10] The channel operated as a pay television service, emphasizing real-time reporting, live coverage, and analysis in partnership with Reuters for international feeds.[11] In its early months, Times Now prioritized breaking news, political debates, and business updates, differentiating itself through high-energy presentation and on-ground reporting. By September 2006, it achieved a 33.9% viewership share during prime time (8-11 p.m.), surpassing competitors NDTV 24x7 (31.2%) and CNN-IBN (26.6%), according to Television Audience Measurement (TAM) data.[12] The Reuters collaboration enabled access to global wire services, enhancing credibility in foreign affairs coverage, though the partnership's equity component expired after two years without renewal. Initial operations included mobile broadcasting tie-ups, such as with Reliance Infocomm starting January 23, 2006, allowing early viewer access via handsets.[13] From 2007 to 2010, Times Now consolidated its position through consistent prime-time dominance and special event coverage, such as elections and budgets, where it captured significant shares like 28% on Budget Day in 2008.[14] By 2009, it assumed overall leadership in the English news segment, widening its lead with a 37% market share by mid-2010, per TAM metrics, outpacing NDTV (15%) and CNN-IBN (22%).[15] This growth reflected effective initial strategies in content velocity and anchor-led debates under Goswami's direction, though the channel faced the genre's clutter until clearer leadership emerged post-2008.[14]Expansion and Network Integration (2011–2019)
In 2011, Times Now marked its international debut by launching in the United States, extending its reach beyond India to cater to the diaspora audience.[16] This move represented the channel's initial foray into global markets, leveraging partnerships for distribution on platforms accessible to overseas viewers.[16] The channel continued its overseas growth with a launch in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2015, described by Times Network executives as a pivotal expansion following the US entry.[16] By October 2016, Times Network further broadened its European presence by introducing Times Now and the entertainment channel Zoom via the Bobbles Media platform, enhancing accessibility for Indian expatriates across the continent.[17] This culminated in February 2017 when the network announced Times Now's availability in 100 countries, solidifying its position as a key player in international Indian news dissemination.[18] Domestically, Times Network integrated its portfolio by launching Mirror Now, a second English-language general news channel, on March 23, 2017, repurposing the former Magicbricks Now platform for broader cable and satellite distribution.[19] Mirror Now emphasized civic issues and viewer-centric reporting, complementing Times Now's focus on national and global headlines.[20] In August 2019, the network extended this integration internationally by debuting Times Now World—a dedicated global news feed—and Mirror Now in the Middle East via du TV, targeting regional audiences with tailored content on international affairs affecting India.[21][22] These developments under Times Network unified news operations across languages, genres, and geographies, optimizing shared resources like editorial teams and production facilities.Adaptations and Recent Milestones (2020–2025)
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Times Now intensified its digital presence, with the channel's YouTube platform seeing significant viewership growth as traditional broadcasting faced disruptions.[23] A key adaptation came in 2021 with the launch of Times Now Navbharat, the network's Hindi-language news channel, on August 1, marking its entry into the dominant Hindi news market to broaden reach beyond English-speaking audiences.[24][25] The channel debuted in HD format, originating from the Times Network's established English news framework, and added an SD feed later to enhance accessibility across platforms.[26][27] By 2024, these efforts yielded measurable milestones in digital metrics: Times Now became India's most-watched English news channel on YouTube, accumulating over 8.1 crore views in February alone, contributing to Times Network's status as the fastest-growing digital video news publisher across categories.[23] In June 2025, Times Network expanded internationally by launching ET Now and Times Now Navbharat on Rogers Xfinity TV in Canada (channels 2651 and 2696, respectively), targeting the Indian diaspora and extending its footprint beyond India.[28][29] The year culminated in the Times Now Summit 2025, held March 27–28 in New Delhi under the theme "Keeping Bharat Ahead," commemorating nearly two decades of operations and featuring discussions on national progress with leaders from policy, business, and technology sectors.[30][31] This event underscored the channel's evolving role in thought leadership amid digital transformation.[32]Ownership and Organization
Parent Company and Corporate Structure
Times Now operates as a flagship channel within Times Network, the television broadcasting arm of Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL), the core entity of the Times Group, India's largest media conglomerate by circulation and revenue.[1] BCCL, founded in 1838 as a printing press and evolved into a multimedia powerhouse, oversees print titles such as The Times of India (with over 13 million daily readers as of 2023), digital ventures via Times Internet, radio stations, and the Times Network's suite of channels including ET Now, Mirror Now, and regional variants like Times Now Navbharat.[33] [1] BCCL maintains a private, family-controlled structure, with ownership concentrated in the hands of the Jain family—specifically the descendants of Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain, who consolidated control post-independence—holding the majority stake through trusts and direct holdings without public listing or significant external investors.[34] This setup ensures operational autonomy but has drawn scrutiny for potential influence on editorial decisions, though BCCL asserts diversified revenue streams from advertising (over 70% of income) and subscriptions mitigate dependency risks.[11] The corporate hierarchy places strategic oversight with executive directors Vineet Jain (Managing Director, focusing on expansion) and Samir Jain (Vice-Chairman, handling core operations), who report to a family-led board.[35] Times Network itself functions as a subsidiary division under BCCL, with Times Now specifically managed through Bennett Broadcasting and Distribution Services Limited, where Times Internet Limited retains a 99.9% equity stake to integrate digital synergies.[11] This layered structure supports cross-platform content distribution but has faced regulatory probes in India for cross-media ownership limits under the Cable Television Networks Act, though BCCL complies via segregated operations. As of 2025, no fundamental restructuring has altered this framework, despite leadership tweaks in broadcasting units.[35]Key Personnel and Leadership
Vineet Jain has served as Managing Director of the Times Group (Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.), the parent entity overseeing Times Network and its channels including Times Now, since the early 2000s, directing strategic expansions in media and broadcasting.[36] [37] N. Subramanian functions as Executive Director and Group CEO for the Times Group's non-publishing divisions, which include Times Network's operations, managing financial and operational aspects of broadcast entities as of 2024.[38] Following the conclusion of M.K. Anand's tenure as Managing Director and CEO of Times Network in December 2024 and the exit of Chief Operating Officer Varun Kohli in August 2025, Rohit Gopakumar, previously CEO of Entertainment and Digital Business, assumed interim oversight of the news broadcasting vertical, including Times Now, reporting to Vineet Jain.[39] [35] Navika Kumar has led editorial operations as Group Editor-in-Chief of Times Now and Times Now Navbharat since at least 2021, shaping content strategy, moderating key debates, and anchoring the primetime show The Newshour on Times Now as of 2025.[40] [41]Programming and Content Style
Core Format and Broadcasting Approach
Times Now functions as a 24-hour English-language news channel centered on breaking news coverage, in-depth political and current affairs analysis, and opinion-driven debates. Its format prioritizes live reporting from the field, supplemented by studio-based discussions that integrate real-time data, expert commentary, and viewer interaction via digital platforms.[1] The channel's programming cycle includes hourly news bulletins, special segments on national and international events, and extended prime-time slots dedicated to thematic analysis, distinguishing it from more feature-oriented competitors through a news-centric strategy established since its 2006 launch.[14] The broadcasting approach employs an anchor-dominated style, where hosts moderate multi-panel debates featuring politicians, journalists, and subject experts to dissect issues such as elections, policy decisions, and security matters. These sessions, often lasting 45-60 minutes, emphasize argumentative exchanges over consensus-building, with anchors interjecting to frame narratives and challenge participants, as exemplified in flagship programs like The Newshour.[42] This format aims to deliver "riveting and compelling" content under a "Now or Nothing" ethos, blending urgency with opinion-shaping to engage urban, English-speaking audiences.[1] Complementing traditional television, the approach extends to multi-platform dissemination, including live streaming on apps and websites, where debates are clipped for social media virality and extended through podcasts or on-demand replays. While self-described as bias-free and informative, the reliance on high-decibel confrontations has drawn observations of prioritizing sensationalism to sustain viewer retention in a competitive 24x7 news landscape.[1][43]Signature Shows and Special Coverage
Times Now's signature programming includes primetime debate shows emphasizing confrontational analysis of political developments. India Upfront, hosted by Rahul Shivshankar, features panel discussions with politicians, experts, and public figures on topics ranging from domestic policy clashes to international relations, often highlighting factual discrepancies in arguments.[44][45] Similarly, The Newshour delivers extended scrutiny of daily headlines, incorporating live inputs and data-driven rebuttals to viewer-submitted queries.[46] These formats, which prioritize rapid-fire exchanges over scripted narratives, have sustained high ratings by aggregating viewer engagement metrics during peak hours.[47] The channel's special coverage extends to marathon events, particularly elections, where it deploys on-ground reporting and multi-hour telecasts. For the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Times Now launched "Mandate 2024," a dedicated slate integrating real-time constituency tracking with expert breakdowns, complemented by Times Now Navbharat's Hindi counterpart.[48] The "Election Yatra" initiative traversed 38 cities across 9 states, covering 8,000 kilometers in 40 days to capture grassroots sentiments through mobile studios and voter interviews.[49] State-level efforts yielded dominant viewership: 28% market share in the 2024 Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections, driven by India Upfront and The Newshour; top position in Maharashtra and Jharkhand counts on November 23, 2024; and unrivaled leadership in Delhi's February 2025 polls.[46][47][50] International specials include partnerships for U.S. presidential races, such as 2020 coverage with CBS News featuring anchored updates on key battlegrounds and implications for India.[51] These segments underscore Times Now's approach to blending empirical polling data with causal linkages between global events and domestic impacts, often citing official election commission figures for verification.[46]Distribution and Reach
Television Broadcasting
Times Now operates as a 24-hour English-language news channel, transmitted via satellite to cable operators, direct-to-home (DTH) providers, and internet protocol television (IPTV) services across India. The channel is distributed primarily through Media Network and Distribution (India) Ltd., a subsidiary handling carriage for Times Group channels including ET Now and Zoom. It relies on geostationary satellites such as those in the INSAT series for nationwide uplink, enabling availability on major DTH platforms like Tata Play, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV, Sun Direct, and Videocon d2h, as well as local multi-system operator (MSO) cable networks.[52][53] Since its launch on January 23, 2006, in partnership with Reuters, Times Now has maintained a pay-TV model, requiring subscription through these platforms rather than free-to-air broadcast. Early distribution emphasized urban and semi-urban markets, with expansion to DTH services like Dish TV by August 2006 to broaden access beyond analog cable. The channel's signal is encoded for digital terrestrial and satellite reception, supporting high-definition feeds on select providers since the mid-2010s, aligning with India's cable digitization mandate completed by 2014.[54] In terms of reach, Times Now commands a leading position in the English news genre, holding approximately 30.7% market share among channels in markets with populations over 10 lakh, targeting NCCS AB males aged 22 and above, based on Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data from Week 16, 2022, to Week 33, 2023. During high-viewership events like the 2024 election exit polls, it achieved up to 48% share in the 5-11 pm slot per BARC metrics for similar demographics. Overall, it reaches tens of millions of households within India's estimated 190-217 million TV-viewing homes as of 2024, though English news penetration remains niche compared to vernacular channels. Internationally, the channel is available in over 100 countries via select cable and satellite providers, including Singapore's mio TV platform.[55][56][57][58]Digital and Multi-Platform Expansion
Times Now extended its reach beyond traditional television by developing a robust digital ecosystem, including the timesnownews.com website, which delivers breaking news, in-depth analysis, and multimedia content tailored for online audiences. This platform integrates live streaming capabilities, allowing users to access channel broadcasts and exclusive digital-first stories, complementing the channel's 24-hour TV programming launched in 2006.[1] The network introduced mobile applications to enhance accessibility, with the Times Now Network app available on iOS and Android devices, enabling push notifications for real-time updates and personalized news feeds. An early milestone in app development occurred in April 2014, when Times Now launched a dedicated Election Mobile App to provide interactive coverage of national polls, marking an initial push toward mobile-optimized engagement.[59][60] On video platforms, Times Now has prioritized YouTube as a core expansion avenue, amassing 6.79 million subscribers and over 3.65 billion total views across 169,000 videos by late 2025. In February 2024, the channel recorded 81 million views, positioning it as India's most-watched English news outlet on the platform that month. This growth reflects a strategic emphasis on short-form clips, live debates, and on-demand segments repurposed from TV shows, driving viral dissemination and younger audience retention.[61][23] Social media integration has further amplified multi-platform distribution, with Times Now maintaining active presences on platforms like Twitter (now X), Facebook, and Instagram to share bite-sized updates, polls, and user-generated interactions. As part of the broader Times Network, these efforts contributed to 104 million monthly unique users across digital properties by August 2024, representing a 168% increase from February of the prior year, underscoring accelerated adoption amid rising internet penetration in India.[62] By April 2025, the network sustained leadership with 107 million monthly unique users, bolstered by platforms like timesnownews.com and ETNow.in.[63] This expansion aligns with Times Network's overarching strategy to converge linear TV with on-demand digital consumption, fostering cross-platform synergies such as embedded videos and social amplification of flagship programs. However, metrics reported by the network itself warrant scrutiny for potential overstatement, as independent verification from third-party analytics firms like Comscore or SimilarWeb is limited in public disclosures for these specific channels.[1]Editorial Stance and Bias Allegations
Claims of Pro-Government Alignment
Critics, particularly from opposition-aligned media and fact-checking outlets, have accused Times Now of exhibiting a pro-government bias favoring the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, often labeling it as part of "Godi media"—a pejorative term implying subservience to the ruling dispensation.[2] This perception stems from the channel's editorial choices, debate formats, and coverage that allegedly amplify government narratives on national security, economic policies, and opposition shortcomings while downplaying administrative failures.[6] A notable example occurred in May 2017, when Times Now employed hashtags in its reporting on an alleged ISIS terror plot in India, framing the discussion as "Congress blames BJP" and questioning whether opposition leaders were "appeasing terrorism for votes," which critics argued deflected scrutiny from security lapses under the BJP-led government.[6] Similarly, anchors such as Navika Kumar and Rahul Shivshankar have faced allegations of moderating prime-time debates that favor BJP spokespersons, with limited pushback against official positions on issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act and defense policies.[2] Media bias evaluators have classified Times Now as right-leaning due to consistent story selection that aligns with ruling party priorities, including heightened focus on anti-Pakistan rhetoric and pro-nationalist themes post-2014.[2] During the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, the channel's portrayal of the region as quickly normalizing despite ongoing restrictions drew accusations of echoing government propaganda.[64] These claims are amplified by left-leaning critics who point to a post-2014 shift in the channel's tone, contrasting it with pre-BJP rule coverage, though Times Now maintains its stance reflects nationalist priorities rather than partisan loyalty.[65]Responses to Bias Accusations and Journalistic Rationale
Times Now maintains that its reporting adheres to principles of neutrality and non-partisan journalism, as articulated in disclaimers accompanying its video content, where the channel describes its team as "journalists who are neutral to the core and non-partisan."[66] This stance positions the channel's aggressive debate format and confrontational interviews as tools for extracting accountability from political figures across the spectrum, rather than evidence of favoritism. Anchors have individually countered specific criticisms by framing them as attempts to undermine rigorous scrutiny; for instance, in September 2020, Navika Kumar responded to online trolling over her insistence on direct answers during panel discussions, arguing that allowing deflection would compromise journalistic duty and that such complaints reflect discomfort with tough questioning.[67] In legal and regulatory contexts, Times Now has defended its content against bias-related complaints by emphasizing contextual accuracy and compliance with broadcasting norms, as seen in Supreme Court interventions protecting anchors from coercive actions in FIRs filed over controversial episodes.[68] The channel's broader journalistic rationale prioritizes high-impact, viewer-engaged coverage—characterized by real-time fact-checking during live segments, multi-panelist confrontations, and focus on national security and governance issues—to drive public discourse, a approach it attributes to empirical audience preferences evidenced by sustained prime-time leadership since its 2006 launch.[2] Critics, often from fact-checking outlets like Alt News that exhibit their own selective scrutiny patterns, allege systemic pro-ruling party tilt, but Times Now implicitly rebuts this through persistent criticism of government policies in areas like economic reforms and foreign relations, suggesting accusations may stem from ideological opposition rather than disproven claims of uncritical alignment.[69] This rationale aligns with the channel's evolution under Times Group ownership, where editorial decisions favor speed and debate over prolonged investigative restraint, justified as necessary in India's polarized media ecosystem to counter narrative dominance by legacy outlets perceived as opposition-leaning. While formal editorial codes are not publicly detailed, responses to ethical challenges, such as NBDSA directives to remove episodes for guideline breaches, involve targeted corrections without conceding overarching bias, reinforcing a commitment to adaptive standards amid competitive TRP pressures.[70] Such defenses highlight a meta-critique of accusers' credibility, noting that many stem from entities with documented imbalances in targeting right-leaning media over others.Controversies and Legal Challenges
Alleged Ethical and Regulatory Violations
In 2016, the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on Times Now and directed the channel to broadcast an apology for its coverage of the Jasleen Kaur road rage case in Delhi, ruling that the reporting constituted trial by media, breached privacy norms, and prejudiced an ongoing judicial inquiry by airing unsubstantiated claims against the accused.[71][72] On November 19, 2021, the News Broadcasters and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) adjudicated a complaint against Times Now's flagship program India Upfront, hosted by editor-in-chief Rahul Shivshankar, for a September 14, 2020, episode that misrepresented a publicly accessible Zoom webinar as a "secret meeting of Leftists" plotting against the government. The authority determined this breached the Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards by misleading audiences, promoting communal discord through inflammatory framing, and failing to uphold principles of accuracy, impartiality, and objectivity, ordering the video's removal from all digital platforms within seven days.[73][74] In March 2023, the NBDSA directed Times Now, along with other channels, to remove specific programs from online archives after finding violations of ethical guidelines on impartiality and avoidance of sensationalism in sensitive coverage, though details on the exact episodes were not publicly itemized beyond general non-compliance with neutrality standards.[75][76] Times Now Navbharat, the Hindi-language counterpart under the Times Network, faced separate NBDSA penalties, including a ₹1 lakh fine in March 2024 for a May 31, 2023, episode on "love jihad" that generalized interfaith relationships to target the Muslim community, violating norms against communal stereotyping and bias.[77][78] The channel was also ordered in October 2025 to remove content from reports on "Mehendi Jihad," deemed to breach ethical codes through unsubstantiated anti-Muslim narratives.[79]Coverage of 2020 Delhi Riots
Times Now aired multiple debates on its primetime programs analyzing the February 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, which resulted in 53 deaths—predominantly Muslims—and over 200 injuries amid communal clashes triggered by protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.[80] Two specific episodes drew regulatory scrutiny for alleged lack of impartiality. On September 14, 2020, anchor Rahul Shivshankar hosted "India Upfront" titled "Shocking Secret Admission Out in Umar’s Arrest," focusing on activist Umar Khalid's role in the riots' alleged conspiracy based on Delhi Police claims.[81] On September 23, 2020, anchor Padmaja Joshi led "The Newshour Agenda" under the headline "Delhi Riots: Plot To Kill Cops & Kaafirs Exposed," emphasizing purported plans targeting police and Hindus.[82] Complaints filed by lawyer Utkarsh Mishra to the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) alleged the debates selectively amplified unverified police narratives to vilify anti-CAA protesters, ignored court criticisms of investigations, and misrepresented events like labeling a public webinar a "secret meeting."[83] The Shivshankar episode was accused of negatively stereotyping a community through unbalanced panel discussions, while Joshi's program was faulted for discrediting witnesses, favoring right-wing guests, and interrupting opposing views to distort the riots' context.[81] In a November 19, 2021, order by NBDSA chairperson Justice (retired) A.K. Sikri, the authority ruled both debates violated the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards, as well as guidelines on reporting court proceedings, by failing to maintain impartiality and objectivity; the programs were deemed "designed to confirm a preconceived story" rather than facilitate balanced discourse.[82][74] NBDSA directed Times Now to remove the episodes from its website, YouTube, and other platforms within seven days, noting the anchors' conduct promoted one narrative without fair representation.[80] Times Now contested the complaints as meritless, arguing the debates reflected factual police disclosures without skewing toward any side, but complied with the removal order.[83] The ruling highlighted broader concerns in Indian broadcast regulation, where self-regulatory bodies like NBDSA enforce ethical standards amid accusations of channel alignments with government probes into the riots' "larger conspiracy," which later faced judicial scrutiny for evidentiary lapses in some cases.[82] No further legal challenges, such as fines or court interventions, were imposed on Times Now specifically for this coverage, distinguishing it from unrelated riot prosecutions.[83]Coverage of 2020–2021 India-China Border Clashes
Times Now provided extensive primetime coverage of the 2020–2021 India-China border clashes, beginning with the standoff in eastern Ladakh on May 5, 2020, and intensifying after the Galwan Valley skirmish on June 15, 2020, which resulted in 20 Indian soldier deaths. Anchors, including Navika Kumar, aired segments featuring satellite imagery to depict Chinese troop buildups and vehicular activity in disputed areas like Galwan and Depsang, asserting that India had not ceded territory and framing the incursions as unprovoked aggression. Coverage often included interviews with military experts and government officials, emphasizing India's defensive infrastructure developments, such as roads and bridges, as responses to Chinese expansionism.[84][85] Primetime debates and monologues on the channel constructed a narrative of national unity and resolve, portraying the clashes as a broader contest against Chinese hegemony while criticizing domestic opposition, such as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, for allegedly undermining Indian valor by questioning casualty transparency. A qualitative discourse analysis of 10 such monologues from Times Now during the conflict identified themes of "primetime nationalism," where anchors invoked historical references to past wars and urged economic boycotts of Chinese goods, aligning journalistic rhetoric with right-wing patriotic fervor rather than detached reporting. This approach mirrored broader trends in Indian English-language TV, prioritizing emotive appeals over balanced geopolitical analysis.[86][87] The channel's reporting drew criticism for factual lapses and sensationalism. On June 17, 2020, Times Now anchor read aloud a list of 30 names purportedly of Chinese soldiers killed in Galwan, attributing it to a Chinese state media outlet via social media forwards; fact-checks confirmed the list as fabricated, with names mismatched to real PLA personnel and no corroboration from official sources. Later segments acknowledged the information as potentially "fake," but the initial broadcast amplified unverified claims amid public demand for details on Chinese casualties, which Beijing minimized at four while independent estimates suggested higher figures.[88][89] Further scrutiny arose over visual aids: In late May and early June 2020, Times Now looped three unrelated old videos—depicting prior standoffs—as evidence of ongoing confrontations, including footage from non-Ladakh sites, which misrepresented the timeline and scale of events to heighten urgency. Such errors contributed to a media environment rife with misinformation, as noted in analyses of the period, though Times Now maintained its focus on vindicating Indian positions post-disengagement talks, which began in July 2020 and yielded partial troop pullbacks by 2021. No formal regulatory actions targeted this coverage, unlike other Times Now controversies, but it exemplified the channel's prioritization of narrative alignment over source verification.[90]Other Lawsuits and Disputes
In 2011, the Supreme Court of India upheld a Bombay High Court directive requiring Times Now to pay ₹100 crore in damages to former Supreme Court Justice P. B. Sawant in a defamation suit arising from a 2006 broadcast. The segment discussed judicial corruption and displayed Sawant's photograph next to images of convicted judges, suggesting his complicity without substantiation, which the court deemed defamatory per se.[91] The ruling, affirmed on November 14, 2011, represented the largest defamation award in Indian legal history at the time, with Times Now's appeal dismissed for lacking merit.[91] In March 2017, Fatima Nafees, mother of missing Jawaharlal Nehru University student Najeeb Ahmed, filed a defamation suit against Times Now, along with Times of India and Dilli Aaj Tak, alleging the channels disseminated false information portraying her son as involved in anti-national activities following his October 2016 disappearance. Nafees claimed the broadcasts violated journalistic standards by amplifying unverified claims from JNU authorities without evidence, exacerbating public misinformation. The suit sought damages and retraction, highlighting patterns of sensationalized coverage in missing persons cases.[92] A 2021 defamation suit by ARG Outlier Media Pvt. Ltd., parent company of rival channel Republic TV, targeted Times Now Group Editor-in-Chief Navika Kumar over on-air comments during coverage of the Mumbai Police's TRP manipulation probe. Kumar alleged Republic inflated viewership ratings through unethical practices, prompting the suit for ₹50 crore in damages filed in a Delhi court. On August 19, 2025, the Patiala House Court directed Delhi Police to investigate Kumar's statements as potentially defamatory, amid ongoing rivalry between the outlets.[93][94][95] The case underscores competitive tensions in Indian television news, where mutual accusations of bias and manipulation have led to cross-litigation.Achievements and Impact
Viewership Metrics and Market Leadership
Times Now has demonstrated strong viewership performance in the competitive English-language news segment in India, particularly excelling during high-stakes events such as elections and budget announcements, where it has frequently captured leading market shares. According to BARC India data reported by the channel, Times Now achieved a 34.3% market share in the English news category on the day of the Union Budget presentation in July 2024, outperforming competitors in live coverage.[96] Similarly, during the counting week for the 2024 Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections in October 2024, it commanded a 28% market share, establishing dominance in event-specific viewership.[46] In the February 2025 Delhi assembly elections, Times Now secured a 27% share during the counting period, reinforcing its appeal for real-time political reporting.[97] In broader weekly metrics, Times Now has maintained positions among the top English news channels, with reported market shares ranging from 17.3% to 19.8% in recent BARC weeks of 2025, though trailing CNN-News18 in overall national averages.[98][99] The channel has asserted sustained leadership, claiming an undisputed 30.7% share across English news for over a year as of August 2023, based on aggregated BARC impressions.[100] In urban markets, Times Now has shown particular strength, leading English news viewership in six major metros with a 29.1% relative share in BARC Week 8 of 2025.[101]| Event/Period | Market Share | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Union Budget Day (July 2024) | 34.3% | BARC via Times Now[96] |
| Haryana/J&K Elections Counting (Oct 2024) | 28% | BARC via Times Now[46] |
| Delhi Elections Counting (Feb 2025) | 27% | BARC via ET Now[97] |
| English News Overall (Aug 2023 claim) | 30.7% | BARC via Times Now[100] |
| 6 Metros English News (Week 8, 2025) | 29.1% | BARC[101] |