NEW DELHI // Five days a week, India’s most popular – and most controversial – news anchor is watched by hundreds of thousands of people as he hollers at his panellists. And now, his abrasive presenting style has been exported to the UK.
Arnab Goswami made his debut in British homes last week as the channel on which his show is aired seeks to build India’s first global news brand.
For keen watchers of television news, perhaps the most interesting aspect of Times Now’s global ambition is the question of how Goswami, the channel’s star, will fare in foreign markets – particularly in Britain where news presenters tend to be less confrontational.
Times Now, launched nine years ago, is India’s leading English news channel with nearly half a million viewers in the country daily.
Last Monday, Times Now began airing on Sky, the largest platform for paid television channels in the UK, where the Indian diaspora numbers about 1.4 million.
The channel is also present in Singapore, Malaysia and the United States, and has plans to move into other European countries next year. But its move into the UK market may be its most significant yet. "The UK launch is extremely important," M K Anand, Times Now's chief executive, told the Financial Times. "It can be our biggest diaspora market and a bridge into Europe."
Goswami is the anchor of Newshour, a live panel debate that airs at 9pm every weekday, as well as Frankly Speaking, an occasional interview show that features high-profile guests.
In the run-up to India’s general election last year, he was the only anchor given the opportunity to interview at length both prime minister Narendra Modi of the then opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Rahul Gandhi, vice president of the then ruling Congress.
Arguably, Goswami’s success is based on his unique style of presentation.
As the anchor and his panellists are broadcast in a screen split eight or even 10 ways, Goswami hectors guests in turn, his tone frequently spilling over into shouting.
“The nation wants to know!” he frequently thunders as part of a well-used line of questioning.
Guests are rarely allowed to finish the points they are trying to make. Mr Goswami also permits no nuance in the political issues he raises, so panellists find themselves easily polarised and trying to talk over each other to be heard.
As a result, watching Newshour can be a wearying, deafening experience, yielding little understanding of deep or complex issues.
Goswami’s manner is so notorious that it has even entered popular culture.
A clip from January 2014, in which a BJP spokeswoman accuses Goswami of taking money from political rivals to harass her party, generated a popular remix on YouTube. The video loops in a refrain of Goswami’s furious response: “Never, ever, ever, ever say something as ridiculous as: ‘You’ve taken money!’”
Famously, last November, senior BJP member Subramanian Swamy called Goswami an “ignoramus” and a liar.
“Don’t be stupid!” he shouted in response to a point Goswami raised.
“I’m not being stupid!” the anchor shot back.
This exchange was repeated three times.
But although Goswami’s style makes for uncomfortable viewing, it seems that Times Now’s owners, media conglomerate Bennett, Coleman & Co Limited (BCCL), believe the channel can do well in the UK.
According to the Financial Times, for the first time abroad, the channel has hired executives to scout for local advertising revenue.
Vanita Kohli Khandekar, a New Delhi-based media analyst, said Goswami’s popularity should translate well in the UK’s Indian diaspora market, but that he may not have wider appeal.
“If it is a global channel, fighting for the same audience as BBC or CNN International, I wouldn’t be so sure” about Times Now’s success, she said.
Ms Khandekar also pointed out that other Indian news channels, such as NDTV and Aaj Tak, already have a place in cable television packages catering to the diaspora in the UK and elsewhere.
The real question, she said, was whether Times Now would be able to build a globally-recognised brand in the mould of Al Jazeera and others, which the channel’s executives have said is part of their ambition.
Times Now has “a financially healthy parent that is experienced in running news brands in one of the world’s toughest news markets: India,” Ms Khandekar said.
But being a global news channel involves having “the ability to have bureaus, reporters and editors across the world”, she said. So far, Times Now has not announced plans to open bureaus in the UK and currently broadcasts its Indian content.
ssubramanian@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
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65
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RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Switzerland, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Lord Giltters, Adrie de Vries, David O’Meara
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Land Of Legends, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
10pm Dubai Dash Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner Equilateral, Frankie Dettori, Charles Hills.
The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Company%20Profile
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
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Company%20Profile
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Fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit
As he spoke, Mr Aboul Gheit repeatedly referred to the need to tackle issues affecting the welfare of people across the region both in terms of preventing conflict and in pushing development.
Lebanon is scheduled to host the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in January that will see regional leaders gather to tackle the challenges facing the Middle East. The last such summit was held in 2013. Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told The National that the Beirut Summit “will be an opportunity for Arab leaders to discuss solely economic and social issues, the conference will not focus on political concerns such as Palestine, Syria or Libya". He added that its slogan will be “the individual is at the heart of development”, adding that it will focus on all elements of human capital.