ET Now
ET Now is an English-language business news television channel in India, owned and operated by Times Network, the broadcasting arm of Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited, commonly known as the Times Group.[1] Launched in 2009, the channel delivers round-the-clock coverage of financial markets, stock market updates, economic indicators, corporate earnings, and personal finance topics, emphasizing holistic analysis to empower viewers amid India's economic growth.[2][3] Affiliated with The Economic Times newspaper, ET Now has established itself as a key platform for business journalism, featuring expert interviews, market predictions, and policy discussions, while maintaining a focus on data-driven reporting over sensationalism.[4][5] Its digital extension, ETNowNews.com, launched in 2023, extends this coverage through multimedia formats including live streams and video analyses.[6]Overview
Channel Description and Mission
ET Now is an English-language business news television channel in India, operated by Times Network, a division of Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (The Times Group). Launched on June 23, 2009, it delivers 24/7 coverage of financial markets, economic trends, corporate developments, and policy impacts, positioning itself as a key resource for investors and business professionals.[7][1] The channel's mission revolves around its brand ethos "Rise With India," which emphasizes empowering viewers to align personal and professional growth with the nation's economic transformation. This involves providing in-depth analysis, quick market updates, and insights into inclusive development, aiming to foster informed participation in India's rising economy.[8][9] ET Now distinguishes itself through a focus on actionable business intelligence rather than sensationalism, integrating print synergies from its parent publication The Economic Times for exclusive reporting and expert commentary. Its programming underscores causal drivers of market movements, such as regulatory changes and global trade dynamics, while maintaining a commitment to empirical data over narrative-driven interpretations.[7][4]Ownership and Affiliation
ET Now is owned and operated by Times Network, the television broadcasting arm of Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL), commonly known as The Times Group, India's largest media conglomerate.[1] BCCL, founded in 1838, is a privately held entity controlled by the Jain family, with brothers Vineet Jain serving as vice chairman and Samir Jain as executive chairman following a 2023 business restructuring that divided certain operations between them while maintaining unified control over core media assets including broadcast divisions.[10][9] The channel maintains a close affiliation with The Economic Times, BCCL's flagship business newspaper launched in 1961, sharing branding, editorial synergies, and content resources to focus on financial markets, corporate news, and economic analysis.[1] This integration positions ET Now as the broadcast extension of The Economic Times' print and digital platforms, with cross-promotions and shared journalistic expertise under the Times Group's umbrella, which also encompasses general news channels like Times Now.[11] No external investors or public shareholding dilute BCCL's ownership of Times Network, ensuring family-directed control over strategic decisions as of 2025.[10]History
Launch and Early Years (2009–2010)
ET Now, an English-language business news channel owned by Times Network (a division of Bennett Coleman & Company Limited), began broadcasting with a soft launch on June 17, 2009.[12] This initial rollout featured limited announcements, primarily marked by a domain name change to etnow.tv, signaling the channel's entry into the competitive English business news market in India.[12] The soft launch strategy allowed for testing and refinement before a broader rollout, amid a landscape dominated by established players like CNBC-TV18 and NDTV Profit. The formal launch occurred in July 2009, timed to coincide with the presentation of the Union Budget 2009-10, enabling real-time coverage of key economic policy announcements.[2] As an extension of The Times Group's media ecosystem, ET Now integrated closely with The Economic Times newspaper, establishing protocols for joint story-breaking to leverage print-digital synergies in financial reporting.[7] The channel's programming emphasized market analysis, corporate earnings, and macroeconomic trends, targeting urban professionals and investors seeking data-driven insights over general news. In its inaugural week (June 21–27, 2009), ET Now secured a 3% share of the English business news viewership, laying groundwork for gradual audience buildup during a period of global economic recovery post-2008 financial crisis.[13] By late 2010, the channel refined its branding with a logo redesign on November 3, consolidating the "ET Now" identity into a unified graphic element for enhanced visual consistency across broadcasts.[14] Early operations focused on building advertiser partnerships and expanding reach, with events like the ET Now Markets Summit in August 2010 convening financial leaders to discuss emerging trends.[15]Growth and Milestones (2011–Present)
In 2011, ET Now established itself as India's leading English business news channel, capturing a 42% market share compared to competitor CNBC TV18's 39%.[16] This positioned the channel at the forefront of the segment amid growing demand for financial market coverage. By 2015, ET Now retained its top ranking with a 48% viewership share, reflecting a 65% increase in overall audience reach during key monitoring weeks.[17] The channel marked its ninth anniversary in 2018, averaging 2.8 million monthly viewers, with significant contributions from major metros like Mumbai.[18] In 2019, upon completing a decade, ET Now led viewership during high-stakes events including the Interim Budget and Lok Sabha election results, prompting a refreshed primetime lineup under the "Rise with India" branding.[19] Expansion efforts included the 2021 launch of ET Now Swadesh, a Hindi-language business news channel on October 4, broadening the network's linguistic reach while maintaining focus on economic nationalism.[20] Digital transformation accelerated post-2021, with the ETNow.in platform achieving 10 million users within 20 days of its 2023 debut.[21] By 2024, the channel's YouTube presence surged to 200.27 million views across April and May alone, establishing dominance in digital business news.[22] This milestone coincided with the 15th anniversary celebrations, featuring the ET NOW Leadership Dialogues on India's $10 trillion economy vision by 2030.[23] Ongoing initiatives like the Leaders of Tomorrow Awards, running over 12 seasons since 2010, have highlighted entrepreneurial growth, reinforcing ET Now's role in recognizing sector innovators.[24]Programming and Content
Format and Core Focus Areas
ET Now operates as a 24-hour English-language business news television channel, providing continuous live coverage of financial markets, breaking business developments, and economic updates.[25] Its programming structure emphasizes real-time reporting, including market ticks, expert panels, and thematic segments tailored to investor needs, delivered through a mix of on-air broadcasts and integrated digital streams.[25] This format prioritizes speed and depth in financial journalism, with anchors delivering cues on indices like the Sensex and Nifty alongside sector-specific analyses.[4] The channel's core focus areas revolve around holistic financial market coverage, encompassing stock trends, corporate earnings, IPOs, and macroeconomic indicators.[3] Key emphases include personal finance strategies, policy impacts on business, and global trade influences on the Indian economy, often framed under the slogan "Rise With India" to align with national growth narratives.[4] Content extends to company listings, budget analyses, and investment insights, targeting professionals and retail investors seeking actionable intelligence.[4] While maintaining a business-centric lens, ET Now incorporates adjacent topics like technology's role in finance and regulatory shifts, ensuring comprehensive yet specialized reporting.[1]Notable Shows and Segments
ET Now's programming includes marquee shows centered on real-time market analysis and economic discourse. The Market delivers comprehensive updates on financial markets, macroeconomic trends, and global events impacting India, featuring expert commentary on stock movements and policy implications.[26] First Trades airs in the morning to guide viewers on opening bell strategies, including stock picks, sector outlooks, and trading recommendations from market specialists.[26] Closing Trades, broadcast in the afternoon, reviews end-of-day performance, dissecting index gains or losses—such as Nifty's rebound to near 25,100 levels driven by IT and metals sectors—and outlines investor positioning for the next session.[27][28] In September 2025, the channel launched two additional flagship programs to expand its regional and interview-focused content. South Central, debuting on September 29, 2025, spotlights business developments in southern India, covering regional economic growth, industry leaders, and market-specific opportunities.[29] The Interview with Ayesha Faridi, also premiering the same day, features in-depth conversations with key business figures, probing strategies amid evolving economic landscapes like trade tensions and sector reforms.[29][30] Special segments and series, such as Leaders of Tomorrow, highlight entrepreneurial achievements through awards and profiles, with Season 12 emphasizing global-stage innovators across sectors like real estate and technology, as aired in episodes from August 2024 onward.[31] These programs collectively underscore ET Now's emphasis on actionable insights, drawing from daily market data like Nifty's surges past 25,900 benchmarks.[32]Key Personnel
Anchors and Presenters
ET Now features a team of anchors and presenters specializing in business, finance, and market analysis, drawn primarily from the Times Network's journalistic pool. These individuals host flagship programs, conduct interviews with industry leaders, and provide real-time market commentary, contributing to the channel's focus on economic trends and corporate developments.[33] Ayesha Faridi serves as Executive Editor for ET Now and ET Now Swadesh, anchoring the interview series The Interview with Ayesha Faridi, launched on September 29, 2025, which features in-depth discussions with business executives and policymakers. Her elevation to this role in September 2025 underscores her expertise in curating content on economic policy and regional markets.[34] Sonali Krishna, Senior Editor and Anchor, is the lead presenter for the flagship show Brand Equity, which examines branding strategies and market innovations, establishing her as a key voice in consumer and corporate storytelling since her prominent role in the program.[33] Ritwika Gupta acts as Anchor and News Editor, moderating panel discussions and special segments like Leaders of Tomorrow, where she engages with emerging business leaders, as seen in the Season 13 launch on August 7, 2025. Her work spans on-ground events and half-hour specials focused on economic growth.[35][36] Srishti Sharma hosts primetime segments including Markets, Motors & Money Talks, delivering bilingual analysis in English and Hindi on stock markets, automotive sectors, and investment trends.[37] Other notable presenters include Avanne Dubash, who anchored market updates before transitioning within Times Network; Jude Sannith, South India Bureau Chief and program anchor covering regional economic news; and Mansee Dave, a market news anchor providing principal analysis on financial indices and trading sessions.[38][39][40]- Pooja Jain: Special correspondent anchoring business bulletins across ET Now platforms.[41]
- Vishwa Mohan Kumar: Anchor for ET Now Swadesh, focusing on domestic market dynamics.[42]
- Kavita Thapliyal: Contributor to women's leadership segments and market reporting.[43]