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Arnab Goswami, with Republic Bharat launch, eyes Hindi news supremacy
MUMBAI: Dominating the English news genre from early 2018 with Republic, Arnab Goswami is ready to take on the bigger Hindi news genre now. The Goswami-led network is launching a free-to-air (FTA) Hindi news channel, Republic Bharat in a cluttered market of more than 20 channels. The network’s target is to reach 150 million people on day one.
The channel will launch on 2 February at 6 am. Goswami believes that being FTA will give it a huge advantage over other existing pay channels. TV Today Network’s Aaj Tak has been the market leader in this category for quite some time. “I don’t think rural audiences will watch pay channels any more. So, compared to pay channels like Aaj Tak we have a huge advantage,” he says.
Talking about the Hindi news genre, Goswami says, “The differentiator is simply the fact that, the Hindi news channels, especially the so called leading channels, have given up on news. I don’t see any news on Hindi news channels and they only produce all kinds of strange programming and then call themselves news channels. These channels show vulgar dances, lewd performances and make shows out of it. I don’t think there are any news channels in Hindi today. We are the first news channel in Hindi today. All other news channel used to be news channels may be 15 years back.”
The campaign of the channel is around the theme of nationalism with the line ‘Rashtra Ke Naam’. Goswami boasts, “We are already number one in terms of perception before our launch and I think, everybody in the Hindi news space has understood that the number one player has come and we have had a fantastic response.”
The necessary government permissions for the channel came through in the last quarter of CY2018, but the network decided to wait for a concrete editorial plan to be in place. The timing to launch the channel right before the elections is also likely to benefit it.
For the state elections of 2018, he claims that the network saw equal amount of people tuning in on virtual screens and TV. “We are doubling the reach rather than eating into the reach. We have a team of 150 dedicated reporters. We have strategic alliances with CVoter and Jan Ki baat and are spending the money because we are building the brand and are entering the market to be the leader,” he says.
Viewers will now get to watch Goswami on primetime on both Republic and Republic Bharat.
This is the first channel of the network in for which the entire design and production is being done in-house. The channel will deploy massive technologies in terms of news gathering and will also include this in news presentation later. For now, the focus will be on using high-end technology for uplinking from different centres.
“From our perspective, the changes in the tariff regime, whether they are implemented or not, we are really agnostic and we will support any regulatory structure that the government proposes to bring in. We are not going to be impacted by any changes in the present regulatory system and we are prepared to comply either which way,” he concludes.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
