NDTV reportedly blocks ORF panellists over Adani-Ambani conflict

In a surprising move, Gautam Adani-owned New Delhi Television Ltd NDTV reportedly blocked all panellists, experts, and people associated with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) from appearing on its channel.

According to reports, the reason behind this is a conflict between two of the largest business conglomerates in India, Adani and Ambani.

ORF is known to be funded by Ambani while NDTV is now part of the Adani Group. This conflict appears to have spilled over into the media industry, causing a rift between the two organizations.

Sources within NDTV said that they are now considering approaching the India Foundation for panellists and experts. The India Foundation is a think tank closely associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is believed to have links to the Adani Group.

The Observer Research Foundation (ORF), an India-based think tank, received funding from Reliance Industries, a conglomerate owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani. The exact amount of funding is not publicly disclosed, but Reliance Industries is reported to be one of ORF’s main donors.

The year before, the Adani Group gained full control of NDTV by buying most of the stake from the founders, Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy, at a premium rate of nearly 17% over the rate offered to minority shareholders.

Adani Group initially acquired Vishvapradhan Commercial Private Limited, a relatively unknown company which had provided a Rs 403 crore interest-free loan to RRPR Holdings in 2009-10 in exchange for guarantees to buy a stake in the news organization at any time.

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