'Vitriolic' Arnab Goswami quits Times Now

The Indian journalist may set up his own news venture, sources say

Notorious for his acid tongue to secure improved ratings, Indian journalist Arnab Goswami resigned on Tuesday as editor-in-chief of the English news channel Times Now.

“The Editor-in-Chief of Times Now, Arnab Goswami has quit and he will definitely leave a huge vacuum in the 9 o’clock news slot that few if anyone can fill – in terms of volume, at least, even if nothing else,” The Indian Express reported.

Goswami started his career in The Telegraph in Kolkata. But within a year he joined NDTV in 1995. The journalist led Times Now since 2006, which has maintained the No 1 slot in TRPs for the last eight years.

Reports suggested November 1 [Tuesday] is likely to be Goswami’s last 9pm Newshour debate. However, there was no official communication from The Times Group on the resignation yet.



Harini Rana, cricket, sports editor at Times Now, tweeted saying, “Its true, Arnab Goswami has quit @TimesNow an incredible journey comes to an end #NewsRoom #TimesNow #Mumbai.”

Its true, Arnab Goswami has quit @TimesNow an incredible journey comes to an end #NewsRoom #TimesNow #Mumbai

— Harini Rana 🇮🇳 (@HariniRana) November 1, 2016

“Goswami announced his resignation at an editorial meeting. He resigned from the post as he wanted to start something on his own," a report said.

“Sources within the Times Group indicate Arnab Goswami may have been in discussions with another organisation to set up a new television and digital news venture for the past six months,” The Quint reported. “It was also indicated that at least a handful of Times Now employees will move to the new project along with him. In Arnab’s words, the new project will be a “formidable competition to BBC and CNN.”

The Indian government had last month given "Y security" cover to Goswami over an ostensible threat from “terrorist groups”.