The Adani-owned NDTV Group launched its Marathi channel, NDTV Marathi, at an event attended by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis today. This comes after the channel’s foray into Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh with two local language channels.

A report on the NDTV website said that with a focus on the “forward-looking ethos of New Maharashtra”, it will deliver “uncluttered journalism, catering to the discerning needs of Maharashtrians”.

It also cited NDTV CEO Sanjay Pugalia as saying that the channel is the “sixth channel from the NDTV network”, and that the network is also “launching a unique campaign – Let’s Start Up in Maharashtra —to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit among the state's youth”.

Under Adani, NDTV has launched NDTV Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh and NDTV Rajasthan, and NDTV Profit has got a revamp after its merger with BQ Prime. It has also recorded a mass exodus, with the exit of its prominent anchors such as Ravish Kumar.

Newslaundry had earlier reported about how the NDTV has undergone a transformation under the Adani Group – from earlier being recognised as the “last bastion of independent journalism on TV” to becoming the voice of prime minister Narendra Modi and his government. 

Sanjay Pugalia, the chief of Adani’s news business, spearheaded the campaign to takeover NDTV. But he once upheld liberal values and was a fierce critic of the Modi government. How did he swap his allegiance? Read here.