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&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{short description|Leading Indian television news channel broadcasting in Malayalam}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2015}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Infobox television channel&lt;br /&gt;
| name = Asianet News&lt;br /&gt;
| logo = Asianet News Logo.png&lt;br /&gt;
| logo_size = &lt;br /&gt;
| logo_caption = Logo of Asianet News&lt;br /&gt;
| launch_date = 30 September 1994&lt;br /&gt;
| picture_format = [[4:3]]/[[16:9]] ([[576i]], [[SDTV]], [[1080p]] [[HDTV]])&lt;br /&gt;
| network = [[Asianet News Network]] (ANN)&lt;br /&gt;
| owner = [[Jupiter Entertainment Ventures Private Limited|Jupiter Entertainment Ventures]]&lt;br /&gt;
| slogan = നേരോടെ,  നിർഭയം,  നിരന്തരം&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;(Nerode, Nirbhayam, Nirantharam)&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
| type = News Channel&lt;br /&gt;
| country = India&lt;br /&gt;
| language = [[Malayalam]]&lt;br /&gt;
| area = [[Indian sub-continent]]&lt;br /&gt;
| headquarters = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]&lt;br /&gt;
| former_names = Asianet Global&lt;br /&gt;
| sister_channels = [[Suvarna News]] &amp;lt;br&amp;gt; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Kannada Prabha]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
| web = http://www.asianetnews.com/&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_serv_1 = [[Sun Direct]] (India)&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_chan_1 = Channel 222&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_serv_2 = [[Airtel Digital TV]] ([[India]])&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_chan_2 = Channel 852&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_serv_3 = [[Tata Sky]] ([[India]])&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_chan_3 = Channel 1841&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_serv_4 = [[d2h]] ([[India]])&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_chan_4 = Channel 3179&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_serv_5 = [[Dish TV]] &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;small&amp;gt;([[India]])&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_chan_5 = Channel 3179&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_serv_6 = &lt;br /&gt;
| sat_chan_6 = &lt;br /&gt;
| sat_serv_7 = [http://zingdigital.in/ Zing digital] &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;small&amp;gt;([[India]])&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| sat_chan_7 = Channel 626&lt;br /&gt;
| cable_serv_1 = [[Asianet Digital TV]] &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;small&amp;gt;([[India]])&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| cable_chan_1 = Channel 121&lt;br /&gt;
| cable_serv_2 = [[Kerala Vision Digital TV]] &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;small&amp;gt;([[India]])&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| cable_chan_2 = Channel 022&lt;br /&gt;
| cable_serv_3 = [[DEN Networks]] &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;small&amp;gt;([[Kerala, India]])&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| cable_chan_3 = Channel 622&lt;br /&gt;
| cable_serv_4 = [http://www.etisalat.ae Etisalat Digital TV] &amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;small&amp;gt;([[United Arab Emirates]])&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| cable_chan_4 = Channel 831&lt;br /&gt;
| online_serv_1 = [[Asianet Mobile TV]]&lt;br /&gt;
| online_chan_1 = (World wide)&lt;br /&gt;
|founder=Dr. Raji Menon}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Asianet News&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (formerly &amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Asianet Global&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;) is a free-to-air [[Malayalam|Malayalam-language]] news channel from Asianet News Network (ANN).  has remaining stake and Asianet News Network operates as a subsidiary of Jupiter Entertainment Ventures ([[Jupiter Capital Private Limited|Jupiter Capital Ventures]]).&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/people.asp?privcapId=138192270|title=Company Overview of Asianet News Network Private Ltd. |website=bloomberg.com|access-date=21 October 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The channel is based in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web |url=http://www.asianetnews.tv/contact-us |title=Archived copy |access-date=17 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924100646/http://www.asianetnews.tv/contact-us |archive-date=24 September 2016 |url-status=dead  }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k13/mar/mar256.php|title=Chinta Shyamsundar returns as CEO of Asianet News Network|date=29 May 2013|access-date=2 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106163737/http://www.indiantelevision.com/headlines/y2k13/mar/mar256.php|archive-date=6 November 2018|url-status=bot: unknown}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Asianet News is currently one of the market leader in Malayalam television news sector.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news|last=Newslaundry|title=Newslaundry {{!}} Sabki Dhulai|language=en-us|work=Newslaundry|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/20/asianet-and-the-independence-of-rajeev-chandrasekhar|url-status=bot: unknown|access-date=12 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727115113/https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/20/asianet-and-the-independence-of-rajeev-chandrasekhar|archive-date=27 July 2019}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Frank P. Thomas is the Director and Group CFO of Asianet News Network (ANN), M. G. Radhakrishnan is the current Editor-in-Chief of Asianet News Malayalam Network and Kaushik Ghosh is the Chief Revenue Officer of Asianet News Network (ANN).&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=https://www.asianetnews.com/about-us|title=About Us {{!}} Asianetnews|date=27 July 2019|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727121257/https://www.asianetnews.com/about-us|archive-date=27 July 2019}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Rajesh Kalra is the Executive Chairman of Asianet News Network (ANN).&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url= https://www.ibtimes.co.in/after-times-internet-rajesh-kalra-takes-reins-asianet-executive-chairman-827591|title=After Times Internet, Rajesh Kalra Takes Reins At Asianet As Executive Chairman|website=www.ibtimes.co.in|access-date=11 December 2020}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Rajeev Chandrasekhar is the chairman of Jupiter Capital.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=http://www.jupitercapital.in/rajeev_chandrasekhar.html|title=Jupiter Capital|website=www.jupitercapital.in|access-date=27 July 2019}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The company also owns the [[Kannada]] news channel [[Suvarna News]]&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web|last=Saxena, Nikita and Dev, Atul|date=2020-03-08|title=Asianet News proved its credibility despite Rajeev Chandrashekar&amp;#039;s attempts at interference|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/excerpt/asianet-news-proved-its-credibility-rajeev-chandrashekar-attempts-at-interference|website=The Caravan}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and is an investor in English news channel [[Republic TV]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:10&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Malayalam general entertainment channels, [[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]], [[Asianet Plus]], and [[Asianet Movies]], are wholly owned by [[Star India|STAR India]]. [[Asianet Digital Network]] are wholly owned by [[Asianet Satellite Communications]] ([[Cable TV]], [[Broadband]] &amp;amp; [[Teleshopping]]{{dn|date=August 2021}}, [[Consumer Electronics]], [[Over-the-top media service|OTT]], [[Pay television]] &amp;amp; [[Broadcasting]]) [[Telecommunication]] Company. And Asianet News Network channels, [[Asianet Satellite Communications]] [[Telecommunication]] Company, [[Asianet Star Communications]] channels use the brand-name and the &amp;quot;Asianet&amp;quot; logo.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:7&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== History ==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Established by Dr. Raji Menon ===&lt;br /&gt;
The Asianet channel company and Asianet cable company were promoted by Dr. Raji Menon. &amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/finance/rupert-murdoch-s-grand-takeover-in-kerala-news-news-jegwlxfefhj.html|title=Rupert Murdoch&amp;#039;s grand takeover in Kerala|access-date=13 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106163859/http://www.sify.com/finance/rupert-murdoch-s-grand-takeover-in-kerala-news-news-jegwlxfefhj.html|archive-date=6 November 2018|url-status=dead}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;Asianet’s logo is a derivative of Dr. Menon’s company logo. Dr. Menon’s office in Chennai became the first Asianet’s head office. Dr. Raji Menon bought Uma Studio from the famous Malayalam actor Mr Madhu and this became Asianet’s Puliarkonam Studio in Thiruvananthapuram.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Asianet Communications was the first entertainment television company in Malayalam.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-36543120081117|title=Star buys majority in Asianet; forms JV with Rajeev Chandrasekhar|date=17 November 2008|work=Reuters|access-date=27 July 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727172226/https://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-36543120081117|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=bot: unknown}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Origins ===&lt;br /&gt;
Asianet Communications was toying with the idea of a news channel - there was none in Malayalam - for a long time.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;financialexpress.com&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:2&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; It was with this intention that Asianet Global - their second channel - was launched in June 2001. The channel was targeting the huge expatriate [[Malayalee|Malayali]] population in the [[Middle East]] and Europe. However, as it turned out, there were very few news-based programmes in the channel and most of it later gave way to film-based entertainment programmes.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2003-04-30/news/27521982_1_asianet-communications-channel-asianet-news|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131127043944/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2003-04-30/news/27521982_1_asianet-communications-channel-asianet-news|archive-date=27 November 2013|url-status=dead|title=Asianet Global is now Asianet News - Economic Times|access-date=27 November 2013}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;financialexpress.com&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/asianet-to-launch-news-channel/65718/|title=Asianet To Launch News Channel|date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106164017/https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/asianet-to-launch-news-channel/65718/|archive-date=6 November 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
With Asianet Global not fetching returns, the management decided to go in for an entertainment channel called &amp;quot;Asianet Plus&amp;quot; and terminate Asianet Global. Midway through the launching and wind up process, there was a rethink and the concept of a news channel was revived.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;financialexpress.com&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:2&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; It was initially reported in the media that the a news channel will be launched by December 2002. The channel was expected have news programmes in the evenings after which there would be a variety of entertainment programmes. Hourly news bulletins were also expected.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;financialexpress.com&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Asianet Global was eventually renamed as &amp;quot;Asianet News&amp;quot; on 1 May 2003.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;financialexpress.com&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Company MD K. Madhavan told the media that the entire channel had also been restructured in the process.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:2&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Dr. Raji Menon Era ===&lt;br /&gt;
Dr. Raji Menon was Moscow-based businessman of Kerala origin, on his behalf Mr Sashi Kumar (Dr. Menon&amp;#039;s nephew) was in charge as a managing director. Asianet Communications was registered with Dr. C P Chandrasekhar and Mr Sashi kumar as the first directors. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Later Dr. Raji Menon increased Mr Sashikumar&amp;#039;s share from the initial 2% to 45% in stages (It was Dr. Menon&amp;#039;s gift to his nephew). 5% of the equity was with Mr Raghu Nandan (Dr Menon’ elder brother). Dr. Raji Menon bought back the shares earlier gifted to Mr Sashikumar in 1999 at an agreed price, and took over full control of Asianet.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Rajiv Chandrasekhar era ===&lt;br /&gt;
Chandrasekhar was a Bangalore-based businessman of Kerala origin. In late 2006&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:11&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Dr. Raji Menon partially pulled out of Asianet turning over control to Chandrasekhar.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; At the time, Asianet was the leader amongst the Malayalam channels accounting for 35% of Kerala&amp;#039;s total advertisement market.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:3&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Chandrasekhar had acquired a 51% stake&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:14&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; in the Asianet channels (Asianet, Asianet News, and Asianet Plus) through Jupiter Entertainment Ventures (JEV) in October 2006. While there was no official word from Asianet on the size of the investment, the figure is thought to range between INR 120-150 crore. The remaining 49% stake was still held by Dr. Raji Menon and Asianet MD K. Madhavan with Zee Group holding a small 3% stake. Madhavan continued as the MD of Asianet, while Chandrasekhar took over as the Chairman of the company.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2006-10-30/news/27458627_1_reji-menon-asianet-news-asianet-md-k-madhavan|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140213063354/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2006-10-30/news/27458627_1_reji-menon-asianet-news-asianet-md-k-madhavan|archive-date=13 February 2014|url-status=dead|title=Rajeev Chandrasekhar buys 51% in Asianet, deal size seen at Rs 150 cr - Economic Times|access-date=13 February 2014}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Asianet Communications soon launched its foray into Kannada and Telugu television industry with [[Star Suvarna|Asianet Suvarna]] and Asianet Sitara.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:3&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:11&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== STAR India acquisitions ===&lt;br /&gt;
Asianet was restructured into four companies in June 2008 (general entertainment, news, radio and media infrastructure). This move was to allow separate investments in each company.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web|url=https://www.medianama.com/2014/03/223-star-india-asianet/|title=STAR India acquires 100% Stake In Asianet Communications - MediaNama|website=medianama.com|language=en-US|access-date=9 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727115407/https://www.medianama.com/2014/03/223-star-india-asianet/|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=bot: unknown}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; [[STAR India]] started talks with the owners of the Asianet channels in August 2008.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; While the negotiations were going on, the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI-Marxist]] leadership in Kerala famously called for &amp;quot;a revolt against the entry of media mogul [[Rupert Murdoch]]&amp;#039;s STAR TV network into the [Kerala] state&amp;quot;. The party called the move a &amp;quot;cultural invasion&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
STAR India eventually bought a 51% stake in Asianet Communications and formed joint venture with JEV in November 2008.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/interesting-tussle-on-to-gain-control-of-kannada-prabha-113071701107_1.html|title=Interesting tussle on to gain control of &amp;#039;Kannada Prabha&amp;#039;|last=Kulkarni|first=Raghuvir Badrinath &amp;amp; Mahesh|date=17 July 2013|via=Business Standard|access-date=13 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727115558/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/interesting-tussle-on-to-gain-control-of-kannada-prabha-113071701107_1.html|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=bot: unknown}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The joint venture, called &amp;quot;STAR Jupiter&amp;quot;, comprised all general entertainment channels of Asianet Communications ([[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]], [[Asianet Plus]], [[Star Suvarna|Asianet Suvarna]] and Asianet Sitara&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/star-tv-buys-majority-in-jupiter-entertainment-108111601036_1.html|title=Star TV buys majority in Jupiter Entertainment|last=Reporter|first=B. S.|date=16 November 2008|work=Business Standard India|access-date=27 July 2019}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;)  and [[Star Vijay]]. Star India had reportedly paid $235 million in cash for the 51% stake and assumed net debt of approximately $20 million.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:7&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;  It’s not clear how much stake Dr. Raji Menon held in the new STAR Jupiter venture. Prior to forming the JV, it was known that the original founder had held about 26% stake.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:11&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; In the wake of media reports about the STAR takeover, Asianet Vice-Chairman Madhavan issued a media release saying: &amp;quot;There is no basis for the speculation that the policies of the Asianet News Network (ANN) will fall under foreign [STAR]  control&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
STAR India increased its stake in Asianet Communications to 75% in July 2010 (for which STAR India paid around $90 million in cash), and to 87%, by acquiring 12% stake for $160 million in June 2013. The later move was by virtue of acquiring a 19% equity stake in Vijay TV from Chandrasekhar and Asianet Communications MD Madhavan. Following the June 2013 investment, Asianet Communications was valued at $1.33 billion. STAR India acquired 100% stake in Asianet Communications (buying the remaining 13% stake) in March 2014.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:7&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:4&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Attempts on editorial freedom ===&lt;br /&gt;
In October 2016 Jupiter Capital was accused by the media of interfering with editorial freedom. The accusation was triggered by a leaked email sent from Jupiter Capital Chief Operating Officer Amit Gupta to editorial heads of Asianet News, Suvarna News, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Kannada Prabha&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nda-mp-rajeev-chandrasekhar-investor-director-in-arnab-goswami-channel/|title=Kerala NDA vice-chairman Rajeev Chandrasekhar investor, director in Arnab Goswami&amp;#039;s Republic|date=13 January 2017|work=The Indian Express|access-date=12 November 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727120108/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nda-mp-rajeev-chandrasekhar-investor-director-in-arnab-goswami-channel/|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=bot: unknown}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:8&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; M. G. Radhakrishnan, Editor-in-Chief of Asianet News, told the media he was not aware of the email and that he had &amp;quot;never faced pressure of any kind from the management&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:8&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:9&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Chandrasekhar was one of the largest investors in ARG Outlier Asianet News, the parent company of the English-language news channel &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Republic TV.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;  Chandrasekhar, through Asianet, had invested over INR 30 crore in ARG Outlier.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:9&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/mp-rajeev-chandrasekhar-biggest-investor-in-arnab-goswami-s-republic-117011300345_1.html|title=MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar biggest investor in Arnab Goswami&amp;#039;s Republic?|last=Team|first=BS Web|date=13 January 2017|work=Business Standard India|access-date=12 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727114624/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/mp-rajeev-chandrasekhar-biggest-investor-in-arnab-goswami-s-republic-117011300345_1.html|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=bot: unknown}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; SARG Media Holding - owned by [[Arnab Goswami]] - is other major investor in ARG Outlier Asianet News.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news|url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/VxIRRsx8K87hlSU6yQP3vK/Rajeev-Chandrasekhar-resigns-as-Republic-TV-board-director.html|title=Rajeev Chandrasekhar resigns as Republic TV board director|last=Jha|first=Lata|date=2 April 2018|work=livemint.com/|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190727115907/https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/VxIRRsx8K87hlSU6yQP3vK/Rajeev-Chandrasekhar-resigns-as-Republic-TV-board-director.html|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=bot: unknown}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/rajeev-chandrasekhar-resigns-from-asianets-board/article23414120.ece|title=Rajeev Chandrasekhar resigns from Asianet&amp;#039;s board|date=2 April 2018|work=The Hindu|access-date=6 November 2018|others=Special Correspondent|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727114400/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/rajeev-chandrasekhar-resigns-from-asianets-board/article23414120.ece|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=bot: unknown}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In May 2019, Asianet diluted its shareholding in The Republic Media Network by selling a large amount its shares to Goswami. Currently, Asianet is a minority investor in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Republic TV.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/rajeev-chandrasekhar-s-asianet-pares-stake-in-arnab-goswami-s-republic-tv-119050601036_1.html|title=Rajeev Chandrasekhar&amp;#039;s Asianet pares stake in Arnab Goswami&amp;#039;s Republic TV|last=Narasimhan|first=T. E.|date=6 May 2019|work=Business Standard India|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506212653/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/rajeev-chandrasekhar-s-asianet-pares-stake-in-arnab-goswami-s-republic-tv-119050601036_1.html|archive-date=6 May 2019|url-status=bot: unknown}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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On 6 March 2020, the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Information and Broadcasting Ministry]] suspended the broadcast of Asianet News and [[MediaOne TV]] for two days over their coverage of the [[2020 Delhi riots]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web|last=PTI|date=2020-03-06|title=I&amp;amp;B Ministry suspends broadcast of 2 Kerala-based channels for 48 hrs over Delhi violence reporting|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ib-ministry-suspends-broadcast-of-2-keralabased-channels-for-48-hrs-over-delhi-violence-reporting/1754470|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622105444/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ib-ministry-suspends-broadcast-of-2-keralabased-channels-for-48-hrs-over-delhi-violence-reporting/1754470|archive-date=2020-06-22|website=Outlook|location=New Delhi}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web|date=2020-03-06|title=Delhi violence coverage: Asianet News, Media One banned for 48 hours|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/03/06/delhi-violence-coverage-asianet-news-media-one-banned-for-48-hours.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622105244/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/03/06/delhi-violence-coverage-asianet-news-media-one-banned-for-48-hours.html#!/web/20200622105244mp_/https://www.theweek.in/|archive-date=2020-06-22|website=The Week}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The ministry accused the two channels of &amp;quot;being biased and critical of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] and the [[Delhi Police]]&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:12&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Citing a report of P. R. Sunil, the government said the coverage was done in a manner &amp;quot;which highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:12&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; The ban on Asianet News was eventually revoked at 1.30 am (8 March).&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:14&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Editorial freedom ==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Cquote| &amp;quot;Asianet News has had a long history of credible and balanced journalism that is critical of positions across the political spectrum despite being owned by a parliamentarian of the Hindu nationalist party...Nikita Saxena and Atul Dev reported on how the editorial team of Asianet [News] have frequently resisted attempts by [Rajeev] Chandrashekar to interfere with their broadcasts and dictate their coverage and the struggle to maintain the channel&amp;#039;s objectivity.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|author= &amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Caravan&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (2020)&lt;br /&gt;
|source= [https://caravanmagazine.in/excerpt/asianet-news-proved-its-credibility-rajeev-chandrashekar-attempts-at-interference]&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Asianet News and Suvarna News are currently run by [[Asianet News Network]] (ANN). ANN operates as a subsidiary of Jupiter Entertainment Ventures (JEV), a subsidiary of [[Jupiter Capital Private Limited|Jupiter Capital Ventures]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; As per the media critics, Asianet News enjoys a good &amp;quot;reputation&amp;quot; among the news channels in Malayalam. It is often described as &amp;quot;a widely trusted&amp;quot; brand and &amp;quot;top player&amp;quot; in the Malayalam media space.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:8&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
According to Jacob George, a prominent commentator, Asianet News has had a &amp;quot;secular and progressive stance&amp;quot; since the time of its inception in 2003. In his opinion, the current editorial leadership at the news channel is &amp;quot;not easily malleable&amp;quot; and has &amp;quot;immense credibility&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:8&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; According to the Caravan magazine, Asianet News, is &amp;quot;by wide consensus, the most popular and credible news channel in Kerala&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:14&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Recruiting guideline Email ===&lt;br /&gt;
Media watchdog [[Newslaundry]] exposed an e-mail from Amit Gupta, the Chief Operating Officer of [[Jupiter Capital Private Limited|Jupiter Capital]], to the editorial heads of &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Asianet News&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Suvarna News,&amp;#039;&amp;#039; in October 2016.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web|last=Pande|first=Manisha|date=2016-10-20|title=Asianet And The &amp;#039;Independence&amp;#039; Of Rajeev Chandrasekhar|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/20/asianet-and-the-independence-of-rajeev-chandrasekhar|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622101640/https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/20/asianet-and-the-independence-of-rajeev-chandrasekhar|archive-date=2020-06-22|access-date=25 February 2020|website=NewsLaundry|language=en}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; The internal e-mail was sent in September, 2016 as a &amp;#039;guideline&amp;#039; to look up while recruiting new editors.&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:13&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Jupiter Capital Private Limited|Jupiter Capital]], according to the Email, wanted their new editors to be &amp;quot;right of centre in his/her editorial tonality&amp;quot; and &amp;quot;well familiarised with his ([[Rajeev Chandrasekhar]]&amp;#039;s) thoughts on nationalism and governance&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:13&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; The letter explicitly said that the fresh &amp;quot;editorial talent should be aligned to Rajeev Chandrasekhar&amp;#039;s ideology&amp;quot;(Rajeev Chandrasekhar is an MP of BJP)&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:13&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Amit Gupta, on the very next day, had to retract the email because of internal editorial pushback.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:13&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Channels and web portals==&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|-  style=&amp;quot;background:#ccc; text-align:center;&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
! Name&lt;br /&gt;
! Language&lt;br /&gt;
! Type&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[https://www.asianetnews.com/ Asianet News]&lt;br /&gt;
| [[Malayalam]]&lt;br /&gt;
| News channel &amp;amp; portal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[https://www.asianetnews.com/live-tv Malayalam Live TV Online]&lt;br /&gt;
| [[Malayalam]]&lt;br /&gt;
| News channel &amp;amp; portal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[https://kannada.asianetnews.com Suvarna News]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Kannada]]&lt;br /&gt;
| News channel &amp;amp; portal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[https://kannada.asianetnews.com/live-tv Kannada Live TV Online]&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Kannada]]&lt;br /&gt;
| News channel &amp;amp; portal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Republic TV]]&lt;br /&gt;
|English&lt;br /&gt;
|News channel&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Republic Bangla]]&lt;br /&gt;
|Bangla&lt;br /&gt;
|News channel&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Republic Bharat]]&lt;br /&gt;
|Hindi&lt;br /&gt;
|News channel&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Republic World]]&lt;br /&gt;
|English&lt;br /&gt;
|Upcoming News channel&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[https://kpepaper.asianetnews.com Kannada Prabha]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Kannada]]&lt;br /&gt;
| Newspaper&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[https://newsable.asianetnews.com Asianet Newsable]&lt;br /&gt;
| [[English language|English]]&lt;br /&gt;
| News portal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20200507181915/https://telugu.asianetnews.com/ Asianet News Telugu]&lt;br /&gt;
| [[Telugu language|Telugu]]&lt;br /&gt;
| News portal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[https://tamil.asianetnews.com Asianet News Tamil]&lt;br /&gt;
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]]&lt;br /&gt;
| News portal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[https://hindi.asianetnews.com Asianet News Hindi]&lt;br /&gt;
| [[Hindi language|Hindi]]&lt;br /&gt;
| News portal&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[https://bangla.asianetnews.com Asianet News Bangla]&lt;br /&gt;
| [[Bangla (language)|Bangla]]&lt;br /&gt;
| News portal&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
{{reflist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== External links ==&lt;br /&gt;
* {{official}}  &lt;br /&gt;
* [https://caravanmagazine.in/excerpt/asianet-news-proved-its-credibility-rajeev-chandrashekar-attempts-at-interference &amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Caravan&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (March, 2020)]&lt;br /&gt;
* [https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/rajeev-chandrasekhar-mission-secure-power-media-and-politics &amp;#039;&amp;#039;The Caravan&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (December, 2017)]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{Television news in India}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Malayalam journalism}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Television stations in Thiruvananthapuram]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Malayalam-language television channels]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2003]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2001]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:2003 establishments in Kerala]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Frezig</name></author>
	</entry>
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