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Republic Bharat

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Republic Bharat
Country India
Broadcast areaWorldwide
NetworkBroadcast television and Online
HeadquartersMumbai, Maharashtra, India
Programming
Language(s)Hindi
Picture formatSDTV & HDTV
Ownership
Owner
  • Republic Media Network
  • ARG Outlier Media
Key peopleSumit Srivastava
Sister channelsRepublic TV
Republic Bangla
Republic Kannada
History
Launched2 February 2019; 5 years ago (2019-02-02)
Links
Websitewww.republicbharat.com Edit this at Wikidata
Availability
Streaming media
Republic Bharat liveLive TV
YouTubeRepublic Bharat

Republic Bharat (stylized as R. भारत) is a free-to-air Indian Hindi-language news channel affiliation of Republic TV, launched on 2 February 2019, operated and owned by Republic Media Network.[1] It is also available on DD Free Dish.[2]It is a sister channel of Republic TV, which broadcasts news primarily in English; both were founded by Arnab Goswami.[3]

Republic Bharat playing out in a Private University Campus showing the Republic Day Parade

History

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Republic Bharat was launched on 2 February 2019 through satellite and cable platforms.[4][5][6] Republic Bharat launched in the United Kingdom through the Sky platform on August 15.[7] It has a separate UK beam with locally curated programs and events.[8]

In October 2020, according to the Broadcast Audience Research Council, Republic Bharat has the highest TV viewership among all Hindi news channels in India.[9] Republic Bharat launched its digital platform in October 2023.[10]

Regulatory complaints

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Soon after the launch of the channel, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) received three complaints against the channel alleging that the channel was violating TRAI's broadcast sector regulations. The complaint was filed by TV Today. According to the complaint, Republic Bharat had declared its genre as Hindi news, but it was being added in additional genres. This was seen as a deliberate attempt to illegally garner higher Broadcast Audience Research Council ratings and increase viewership.[11]

Fake 'TRP scam' case to implicate Republic Bharat

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Main article: TRP scam

In 2020, Mumbai Police initiated an investigation into the Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation scam of the channel after a complaint was filed that some channels were fraudulently inflating their viewership ratings. With an inflated TRP, ARG Outlier Media (the company which owns Republic World and Republic Bharat) was able to bargain for higher revenue from advertisers.[12]

In October 2020, upon receiving a complaint accusing some channels of fraudulently inflating their viewership ratings, Mumbai Police launched an investigation into Republic World's viewership ratings.[13] The police allege that the channel inflated its ratings by bribing low-income individuals, including people who did not comprehend English, to keep their televisions tuned to Republic World; logs of WhatsApp chats between Goswami and the former chief executive of Broadcast Audience Research Council (the agency responsible for measuring TRP) were published to provide further evidence of collusion.[13][14][15][16] The inflated TRP was leveraged to bargain for higher revenues from advertisers.[13]

Enforcement Directorate's investigation

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) pursued a Money Laundering investigation in connection with the TRP scam, following allegations initially raised in the police case. After scrutinising the claims, the ED concluded there was no evidence linking Republic TV or its Hindi counterpart, R Bharat, to the alleged manipulation of TRPs. This conclusion stemmed from the absence of both digital and testimonial evidence substantiating the allegations against the news network.[17]

The ED criticised the forensic audit report relied upon by the Mumbai Police, describing it as "superficial" and lacking depth. The ED argued that the report failed to present substantive proof implicating Republic TV in the purported scheme. The ED disclosed that investigations into two other media outlets, News Nation and India Today, remain ongoing. The agency indicated that additional findings might surface as the inquiry continues to unfold.[18]

Investigating officer Sachin Vaze's statement

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In September 2021, Sachin Vaze, a Maharashtra police officer currently under arrest, informed the Enforcement Directorate that Anil Deshmukh, the former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP leader, had politically instructed him to arrange for the arrest of Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami in the TRP rigging case.[19][20]

Goswami denies the allegations and has accused the Mumbai Police of retaliating against the channel's recent criticism of their activities.[21][22][23][24][25] On 21 October, Central Bureau of Investigation got involved in the investigation, with the case now potentially covering every news channel in India.[26][27] On 13 December, Republic World CEO was arrested in Mumbai, before being granted bail.[28]

Ofcom censure

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In December 2020, the channel was fined 20,000 pounds (approximately ₹21.07 lakh or USD$25,374) by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) for broadcasting content involving "offensive language", "hate speech" and "abusive or derogatory treatment of individuals, groups, religions or communities". It was also asked to air a public apology.[29] Between 26 February and 9 April, the channel broadcast an apology in Hindi as well as English multiple times, throughout the day.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Shamsher Singh to head Republic TV's soon-to-be-launched Hindi channel – Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Prasar Bharati sells 40 DD Free Dish slots for Rs 394.49 cr under new policy". Televisionpost.com. 15 February 2019.
  3. ^ Babst, Andreas (11 July 2024). "The rise of media mogul Arnab Goswami and how he helped shape Indian nationalism". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German).
  4. ^ "Republic Bharat set for launch in India this weekend". www.bizasialive.com. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Republic Bharat Fined £20,000 By UK Communications Regulator Ofcom". outlookindia.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  6. ^ "MIB grants six new TV licences in non-news category". Televisionpost.com. 21 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Republic Media Network expands global operations, launches in UK – Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  8. ^ Puri, Rahul (14 August 2019). "Republic Media Network expands its global operations, launches in the UK". Agency Reporter. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  9. ^ "BARC India". Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Republic Media Network launches Hindi news website Republic Bharat - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  11. ^ "Is Republic Bharat flouting TRAI regulations for TRPs?". Newslaundry. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  12. ^ Ali, Ahmed (15 December 2020). "Republic's TRPs high from 1st month, used to get revenue: Cops". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Ali, Ahmed (15 December 2020). "Republic's TRPs high from 1st month, used to get revenue: Cops". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  14. ^ Phadke, Manasi (16 January 2021). "'NSA, PMO hooked to Republic' — Arnab Goswami 'WhatsApp chats' give TRP scandal new twist". ThePrint. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  15. ^ "WhatsApp chats prove Arnab Goswami-ex-BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta collusion to rig ratings, says NBA". The Times of India. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  16. ^ "'One must play dirty': Chats show how Arnab Goswami plotted with BARC CEO". Newslaundry. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  17. ^ NETWORK, LIVELAW NEWS (22 September 2022). "ED Clean Chit To Republic TV, R Bharat In TRP Scam; Probe Against India Today Ongoing". www.livelaw.in. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  18. ^ B, Sai Ram (29 September 2022). "ED's chargesheet exposes irregularities of Times Now and India Today, no evidence against Republic". News Tap One. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  19. ^ "'Anil Deshmukh Wanted Arnab Goswami Arrested' Reveals Sachin Vaze In His Statement To ED". BW Legal World. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  20. ^ Bureau, Adgully (17 September 2021). "TRP case: Ex-police officer Sachin Vaze’s confession vindicates Republic - Adgully.com". www.adgully.com. Retrieved 10 December 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  21. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey; Kumar, Hari; Bhagat, Shalini Venugopal (9 October 2020). "Indian Police Accuse Popular TV Station of Ratings Fraud". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  22. ^ Pathak, Manish K (9 October 2020). "Mumbai cops take first step in probe against Arnab Goswami's Republic TV". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  23. ^ Singh, Sunilkumar M (9 October 2020). Roy, Divyanshu Dutta (ed.). "Republic TV CFO Summoned By Mumbai Police Tomorrow Over Ratings Scam". NDTV. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  24. ^ Ramnath, Nandini (13 October 2020). "Why Big Bollywood has launched a potentially damaging battle against Times Now and Republic TV". Scroll.in. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  25. ^ "34 Bollywood Producers Move HC Against Irresponsible Remarks by Republic TV, Times Now". The Wire. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  26. ^ Tiwary, Deeptiman; Gokhale, Omkar (21 October 2020). "Twist in TRP case: UP Police file own FIR; case with CBI". The Indian Express. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  27. ^ Gunasekar, Arvind; Jain, Sreenivasan (21 October 2020). "CBI Moves To Investigate Fake Ratings Case As Complaint Is Filed In UP". NDTV. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  28. ^ "Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani Arrested In Mumbai In Fake TV Ratings Scam". NDTV.com. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  29. ^ "UK Media Watchdog Fines Arnab's Republic Bharat £20,000 for 'Hate Speech Against Pakistanis'". The Wire (India). 23 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  30. ^ "Report by Office of Communications" (PDF). ofcom.org.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
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