Arnab Goswami’s channel venture now to be known as Republic TV

The news and current affairs channel is yet to be launched, but it has already generated a lot of conversations. We are talking about ‘Republic’, the new entrepreneurial venture of Arnab Goswami, who had quit Times Now in November 2016. The venture is now being renamed as Republic TV. 

Goswami filed an application to Manmeet Kaur, Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, dated January 28, 2017, stating, “We would like to bring to your kind attention that the name of our news channel is being changed from ‘Republic’ to ‘Republic TV’.” He further requested that all references to ‘Republic’ in the uplinking-downlinking application be construed as references to ‘Republic TV’ forthwith. 

Republic TV is a part of ARG Outlier Media, of which Goswami is Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief. 

As is known, Goswami had announced in December last year that his new venture would be called Republic. On January 7, 2017, Republic formally made its debut on social media as Republic World on Facebook and @Republic on Twitter and the hashtags #Republic and #RepublicWorld trended for 48 hours at time of launch. 

As reported last week, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had raised objections to the venture being christened Republic. In a letter dated January 13, 2017 written to the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Swamy had pointed out that under the Emblems and Names (Prevention and Improper Use) Act 1950, certain names and emblems have been prohibited from being used for professional and commercial purposes. 

He continued, “As per the schedule accompanying the statute, under Item 6, there is an express prohibition from using the phrase ‘Republic’. Hence, the grant of licence to a news channel to broadcast under the name of ‘Republic’ will be contrary to law and a direct breach of the Emblems and Names (Prevention and Improper Use) Act 1950.” 

Swamy asked the Ministry to look into the use of ‘Republic’ and determine if it is prohibited to issue a licence such name.