Top 7 Indian Channels That Are Owned By Politicians!

In a recent article, Top 7 Newspapers Known to Favor Specific Political Parties in India, I talked about how most of the popular newspapers favor specific political parties. When it comes to television, the confederacy between politicians and media goes to a whole new level. Instead of paying for advertisement in the form of news, politicians have decided that it is much more economical to just own television channels. The list of channels owned directly or indirectly by politicians is a very long one. Almost all news channels are owned either directly or indirectly by politicians. The situation in the south is far worse with every party in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, owning at least one channel. Since the number of channels owned by politicians is so huge I can’t write about all of them but here are 7 of the more famous channels who have a definite conflict of interest in delivering political news because their owners are all politicians themselves.Top 7 Indian Channels That Are Owned By Politicians!

Before we get into the top 7 news channels, here are some regional and lesser known channels just for your information:

  • Congress health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan is the chairperson of News Live and Rang.
  • In Karnataka, tourism minister Janardhana Reddy and health minister Sriramulu Reddy own Janashri along with a couple of newspapers.
  • Kasturi TV is owned by former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
  • Suvarna TV of the Asianet group is owned by Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar.
  • Sakshi TV is owned by Jagan Mohan Reddy along with NTV and TV5 in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Studio N is owned by Narne Srinivasa Rao, a businessman related to N. Chandrababu Naidu.
  • Odisha TV is owned by Baijayant Panda of the BJD. Other channels in Orissa are also politician owned.
  • Indiavision in Kerala is owned by Muslim League Secretary M.K. Muneer.
  • In West Bengal, CPI(M) controls TV-24 Ghanta. Trinamool Congress has Kolkata TV.
  • Sukhbir Singh Badal owns PTC and PTC News in Punjab along with PTC Punjabi and PTC Chak De.

And now let’s come to the crème de la crème of politically owned news channels in India.

7. Jaya TV

Jaya TV

Named after its owner, Jaya TV is owned by Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK chief. She also owns Jaya Max, Jaya Plus and J Movie. She owns all this through the holding company Mavis Satcom Ltd. But she is not alone in Tamil Nadu to own television channels. Congress owns Mega TV and Vasanth TV while Vijayakanth of DMDK owns Captain Tv.

6. Sun TV

Sun TV

Even with all this political control of television in Tamil Nadu, the top honors go to DMK chief Karunanidhi’s nephew Kalanithi Maran. He controls Sun TV, Sun News, KTV, Sun Music, Chutti TV, Sumangali Cable, Adithya TV, Chintu TV, Kiran TV, Khushi TV, Udaya Comedy, Udaya Music, Gemini TV, Gemini Comedy and Gemini Movies. Karunanidhi himself owns Kalaignar TV and a close associate M. Raajhendran owns Raj TV and Raj Digital Plus.

5. IBNLokmat

IBNLokmat

Rajendra Dadra, the Minister of School Education of Maharashtra and his brother Vijay Dadra, a Rajya Sabha member, both of Congress, control Lokmat which is the largest selling Marathi newspaper in Maharashtra. The group also owns IBNLokmat in association with the TV18 group.

4. India News

India News

India News is owned by Karthikeya Sharma, brother of Manu Sharma who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Jessica Lal murder case. Karthikeya Sharma owns the ITV Media group that operates many news channels including News X. Karthikeya and Manu are sons of Congress leader Venod Sharma.

3. News 24

News 24

Rajeev Shukla, among other things is the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Planning and the secretary of the All India Congress Committee. He controls News 24 with his wife Anuradha Prasad. They also own Aapno 24 and E24. Interestingly Anuradha Prasad is the sister of BJP leader, Ravi Shankar Prasad.

2. NDTV

NDTV

NDTV is owned by Prannoy Roy. The NDTV group owns NDTV India, NDTV Good Times, NDTV 24×7 and NDTV Profit and other channels. NDTV is known to be sympathetic to communists. The Bengali Roy is married to Radhika Roy whose sister is Brinda Karat a Rajya Sabha member of CPI(M). Brinda Karat is married to Prakash Karat who is the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

1. Times Now

Times Now

Times Now is part of the Times group which is a very big media house which operates Times of India, Mid-Day, Nav-Bharath Times, Stardust, Femina, Vijay Times, Vijaya Karnataka and Times Now. Times Group is owned by Bennet & Coleman. The Italian Robertio Mindo who has a share in the group is a close relative of Sonia Gandhi.

If any channels were left from this list, then it can be either because the politicians have done a good job in hiding any direct links or because I got bored of researching all of them.

Besides politicians businessmen also like to have some control over media and they either have a share in media companies or they give their shares to media companies in exchange of favorable news. All business channels giving stock market advice are so notorious for advertising that the Govt. of India has warned stock investors to heed to the advice given by the media on their own risk.

The truth is that all mass media in India has become corrupt and the only source of trustworthy news that is left is the internet through blogs and small news sites or through social networking sites such as Twitter where news comes direct from the source to the public. If there’s someone making money while delivering the news from the source to the public, you can rest assured that it won’t be a 100% true.

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79 Comments

  1. बिना तथ्यों और सबूतों के इंटरनेट से चुराकर कुछ भी नहीं छाप देना चाहिए। अपने लेख के पक्ष में कुछ तथ्य भी पेश करते तो बात समझ में आती। कल तो कोई भी कह दे कि Hillpost.in को रन करने के लिए वीरेंद्र कश्यप नाम के शख्स से फंडिंग मिलती है। वीरेंद्र कश्यप केंद्रीय मंत्री आनंद शर्मा के नजदीकी हैं।

    शर्मनाक है कि Hillpost.in ने एक वाहियात और बिना तथ्यों का आर्टिकल पोल्ट किया। गूगल करें तो इस तरह के हजारों आर्टिकल मिलेंगे।

    बहरहाल, आदित्य ठाकुर इसे पढ़ें: http://www.bhagwad.com/blog/2010/politics/indian-media-debunking-ownership-myths.html/

  2. says: Arjun

    WHat a crappy article.
    Have you known NDTV to ever be pro- CPI(M)?? Just because Radhika Roy is related to Brinda Karat, doesnt mean that politicians have a stake in NDTV.
    As for this fictional ‘Robertio Mindo’ – what is your source – or have you just picked this up from various silly articles across the web?
    I’m nowhere close to being sympathetic to politicians, but the writer has done a shoddy job of verifying facts here.

    1. says: philipine234

      So neither Radhika Roy nor Roberto Mondo has any bearings for you and even Arundhati Roy may not have any bearing either who is related to Pranav Roy. How else can one get to facts is hard if one gets bent upon to disprove. NDTV is a blatant pro Congress and pro CPM can be easily learnt only I one is aware of it. It has a gross anti Hindu leaning because of it connections to congress and a ruling party makes a lot of difference. CPM has been traditionally anti Congress and anti BJP but they allied with congress in UPOA I for the lust of power. Now BJPO has come in power and lots of old equations are already showing a dramatic change. One can see it in Sonia running helter and skelter for her survival into the houses of people who she had despised for long in her party. Please do some home work on sites because research is a tedious job. Asking questions doesn’t need even much of intel.

  3. I accept that the links of NDTV and Times Now are not clear and the sources of my information are not credible. I guess I chose these two instead of more clearly owned channels because these are more famous channels. I made a mistake and I accept it.

    What bothers me is that I mentioned more than 20 channels in the post. And most of them are owned openly by politicians which is not even a hidden fact. But still the two commenters have focused on only two channels.

    Here is a documentary that you guys should watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7zb-PE4INw

    You can also read the full report on ‘Paid News’ that was initially rejected by the press council of india but they had to post it after supreme court’s order here http://presscouncil.nic.in/home.htm

    As far as the article suggested by Aadarsh Rathore, I read it and all it does is make fun of every claim. Yes some of the claims might be wrong but making fun of them is not a logical refutation of them.

    The truth is that paid news has become the norm in India and maybe even the whole world. It has always been a propaganda tool used by politicians and it still is.

    1. says: Pooja

      You are right here. Media is very powerful and where power is there will always be a fight to control it. This is but obvious and sometimes we don’t see the obvious.

      1. says: anand mishra

        u r right….medea aaj ke naye jounrlist ko dalali ke liye majbur kar raha h….sab par ek hi sawal h….kha jai bhaiya…

    2. says: Atinder Singh

      Well I was all set to go on a rant about betrayal from NDTV my favorite news channel,Owned by communists! .Thank you Mr Aadarsh for that amusing and little OOC email exchange for restoring my Faith.

      Now Mr Aditya since you cleared up on the Fact that maybe NDTV is not Brutus who betrayed me.I would like to say thank you for the insightful post ,I believe you are right in most cases regarding ownership of Media channels.

      News channels have lost lot of their credibility in last few years. I can’t help but feel that they try to actively manipulate public opinion, It will be hypocritical of me to put forth wild conjecture, without any source or proof. So in my personal opinion I feel news channels like indiatv,aaj tak,zee news put a partisan slant to news reports.

    3. says: philipine234

      I don’t think that you need to be apologetic for your comments in your post. As fare as proof ofsuch things are concerned, can you directly prove everything. Vatican owns about half a dozen media and Bennet Coleman Ltd has 80% ownership of Vatican besides the Italian relative of Sonia Gandhi. Can you prove the entire gamut of black money owned by big politicians including Sonia Gandhi? But does that mean that she hasn’t minted money and smuggled the Indian antiques to Italy to mint money. Why is a shop in Orbasano in Italy called Ganapati amassed with Indian antiques and not a single customer enters that shop? Who is interested in Indian antiques in that small Italian village? But it’s truth.

  4. says: Jagriti

    The main fact is that news on TV or in a newspaper or on radio is always tampered with. We get the filtered version that keeps the masses aware in a limited manner.

    Out of 7 if 2 are good then it is better to think about the other 5 channels instead of making a fuss about the 2. But what can we say…after all we are under the influence of these very channels almost 24×7.

  5. i agree that most of news channels are owned by politicians but it does’nt mean that they are biased…
    because now the news viewer is so attentive and it has become necessarry to every channel to look as much transparent as it can tosurvive in the media market……

  6. says: Abhilash

    I agree about the tampered news. these channels always show one side and select the content that suits to their convenience….
    Even paper media is not behind Time of India always tamper the news. for example if we take the recent example of PM and congress president visit to Muzaffar Nagar. after riots They visited only one community and the journalist family however in Times of India it was stated that they have visited all communities in muzaffarnagar. In the same way if you observe the trend will find more….

  7. says: veronica

    Pls if u.can make a list of companies products owned by politicians and spread word for a non cooperation movement to support anna hazare.
    The govt gives us nothing to boycott but by simply boycotting a mews channel a product we can ca use great presssure on politicians and change the situation.
    Fast with anna skip a meal . Awaken conscience.
    Jai hind

  8. says: Asjad Hassan

    I Would Say the Writer has done a good Job and I am very sure that People who pin point the Resource and credibility Should study and research for themselves coz these are the people who dont have the heart to write or raise voice about anything but will give there irrelevant comments just to get noticed and just to feel good.
    Simple Example Do these People know that in 2G Scam Barkha dutt was also a Suspect for influencing the Bid and where she works I guess NDTV.
    U dont raise a question if u dont feel like article was not written as per your choice you raise your concerns if you have proof that article is not correct.
    So I Say thank u to the writer for updating on good things and would love to see more from him 🙂

  9. says: Rajnath Oberoi

    Nice effort and there is absolutely nothing wrong if you got a few facts incorrect. Especially because the media in this country and definitely the ones you mentioned are very very secretive about who owns them.

    Why would the owners want to hide behind such a veil of secrecy? Clearly they have lots to hide including themselves. Many of the anchors / journalists are mere kathputlis dancing to strings being pulled behind the scenes.

    If you serious about pursuing this issue of media ownership I would recommend two resources which might be helpful to you.

    1. Look up newslaundry.com
    2. http://www.thehoot.org

    Good Luck for your efforts, more power to your spirit and you bet I shall follow this post! 🙂 Thanks!

  10. says: Avinash

    I almost fully agree with you, except for NDTV. Pranav Roy got the license only because of Congress, and if you listen/watch the news channel you can understand it purely promotes Congress. All the bullshit B-Dutt talks, is what all the dealers(oops leaders) of Congress speak in their interviews. Also it was all over the social media and news about her links with Congress. (Radia tape controversy.)

  11. says: हेमन्त तापड़िया

    टाईम्स ग्रुप के नवभारत टाईम्स का मुंबई संस्करण करीब 3-4 माह से एक राजनैतिक पार्टी का किन्ही खास कारणों से विरोध कर रहा है। अखबार को लगातार 7-8 दिन पढ कर देखिए अपने आप विरोध की बू आ जाएगी।

  12. says: Kannan

    Great article Aditya! The situation is same in developed countries like the U.S. And the U.k. Indians politician are usually more crude and openly corrupt, but they are learning to be more tactful at deceiving people thanks to their western counterparts. This great country is going down the drains. Only a spiritual revolution can save it. Just like the western counterparts the power holders in India are working hard to make people dependent entertainment , junk food and ambition, thus enabling control of dumb and sick masses through Drugs, food, etc. wake up people. Turn to spirituality and wake up from the matrix. Peace.

  13. says: SWATANTRA

    now it’s our duty to make public all these issues through social media which is our only tool cause no body is going to pay media for publicize these issues.

  14. says: philipine234

    It’s very easy to criticise and ask for proof. On should take such matters as guiding paths and do their own home work unless one has their own vested interest in falsifying the matter. Most of the information published here are true but very brief needing regular research and updating the left outs. The Hindu is owned by N. Ram, a leftist and married to a Swiss woman, catholic by faith and he is a blatant anti Hindu publisher regularly. He manufactures even if there isn’t a mole to denigrate Hindus/Modi/JP. Why don’t these “secularists” write on heinous communal politics of congress ever since independence instead of linking everything against Hindus? Because Saudi Arabia and Vatican pays these secularists blank cheques to selectively target Hindus. Can you have proof of it? But it’s true. In last Parliamentary elections, US spent millions of dollars besides Saudis to defeat Modi. Recall the troll of Kejriwal, “I’m not going to Varanasi for winning but to defeat Modi”. Can one smell the rat? Easy said than done. I love an argumentative Indian who love their easy arm chair job of showing off their English write up.

  15. says: philipine234

    This post is now needing update as there have been lot o developments since August 2013. Having said, I saw a few commentators here making brilliant comments questioning its authenticity.

    But I wonder, “How much are they truly informed of the facts in depth before making up their minds on a particular point”? I have seen its truth on the incidence of Godhra scandal, where Hindu issue is intentionally suppressed to highlight the Muslims’ point. Why? this is my open question here to every serious followers of such media false news. It was a result of fully paid news by vested interests that lie outside our borders. I have also given a hint for further home work.

  16. says: Rohit
  17. says: Rohit Jagessar

    Nice website you are in the very great field and we are also in the same in this business and welcome you to visit our website. Thanks for your posting.

  18. says: Shekhar

    I have never seen NDTV appraising Modi or BJP before the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Even on the debates before polls every time it has shown congress leader’s view in a very positive manner even if they were obviously wrong or speaking a bullshit. Present day media is very commercialized and misguiding. Based on theses misguiding facts rumors spread in public and the truth becomes a joke. The only source of correct info is you have to go through a number of websites, local news papers and TV channels. Only after that you can find a little bit of truth. 🙁

    1. says: Vinit sharma

      ZEE new always apprising to modi and BJP only apart this they never know anythink.
      reason is why appreciating because Mr. subash Chandra is the ower of ZEE new and he belong to BJP and RSS….

  19. says: vinay sharda

    All these channels are one sided in any when anchor is trapped by some he/she just it time take break and after there is no time for that person

  20. says: aditya nayak

    If it is fine with you, could you please list your sources? anyone who wants to build up on your work and take your cause forward will definitely need to cite sources.

  21. says: Shailesh Shukla

    Previously I used to place heavy reliance on NDTV, but badly disappointed after knowing the biased reporting and the infamous Barkhagate scandal. Now I avoid to watch this channel.

  22. says: ved bisen

    Bhai log inko gabbar hi hona chahe jiska channel rho sacchayi nahi dikhayi to latka do india gate par..

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