NBSA asks Republic TV for full-screen apology

The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), an independent body that adjudicates on viewer complaints against TV channels, has ordered Republic TV to render a full-screen apology to viewers following comments made by its primary anchor during the broadcast of programme, ‘Jignesh Flop Show’ in January earlier this year.

In its August 30 order, NBSA has stated that the comments made by Arnab Goswami during the show were “unwarranted, unjustified and in violation of broadcasting standards”. It has also ordered Republic TV to tender the apology on September 7 and send a CD of the same to NBSA. Reminding the broadcaster about the broadcasting standards of NBA, NBSA said it was the responsibility of news channels to maintain accuracy and balance over speed.

The complaint against Republic TV was made by A Singh and his wife, who alleged the channel had wrongly identified Singh as one of the men who harassed the channel’s woman reporter during Jignesh Mevani’s rally in January on Parliament Street.


The couple objected to the use of words such as ‘lewd’, ‘sexist’, ‘pervert’ and ‘anti-Indian’ for Singh. Republic TV in its representation to NBSA said it was only concerned about the safety of its reporter and had also filed a police complaint, investigation to which is on.