Arnab Goswami, the face of 'prime-time' news, resigned as the editor-in-chief of Times Now on Tuesday. The 43-year-old reportedly announced the decision during an editorial conference. The meeting was called at 4.30 pm and went on till about 5.30 pm.
Sources say Goswami wants to start a new channel with Rajeev Chandrasekhar and American media baron Rupert Murdoch. Times Now, however, is still showing teasers of The Newshours with Arnab Goswami saying "ARNAB IS BACK."
Goswami was not seen on the show for the past couple of days. It is likely that November 1 will be the last time Goswami's 9pm debate will be aired on Times Now. According to reports, Goswami made the announcement in a room full of Times Now employees in Mumbai with bureau staff joining via video conferencing. The channel staff responded with stunned silence.
Goswami's prime-time show is primarily responsible for Times Now's consistent high ratings and his absence is likely to hurt the Times Group channel in a highly-competitive market.
Sources within the Times Group indicate that Goswami was holding meetings with an organisation to set up a new television and digital news venture for the past six months. It was also indicated that at least a handful of Times Now employees will move to the new project along with him. In Goswami's words, the new project will be a "formidable competition to BBC and CNN."
"He repeatedly said that 'The game has just begun'," a source in Times Now told TNM, "and that 'independent media is going to thrive'." Another source, who was at the meeting, told TNM that Arnab said, "I'm a rolling stone that does not gather moss."
Meanwhile, Twitter is exploding with hilarious reactions:
#ArnabGoswami resigned from Times Now to Join Pakistan Channel to Kill Terrorists Live on TV pic.twitter.com/yPj39qPovq
— Virender Swag (@virender_swag) November 1, 2016
Arnab Goswami resigns from Times Now ! ... We did it !#ArnabGoswami #TimesNow pic.twitter.com/y6ZjDGlCFZ
— Nikhil Sapre (@NSphd) November 1, 2016
Twitter RW after hearing about Arnab's resignation.#ArnabResigns pic.twitter.com/IvNuEUKb5c
— Blank (@efdotes) November 1, 2016
Barkha, Rana & Sagarika after they heard that #ArnabGoswami quit Times Now.
— PhD in Bak***** !! (@Atheist_Krishna) November 1, 2016
. pic.twitter.com/mfZ7fPqwC6
Arnab Goswami 'resigns' from Times Now.
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) November 1, 2016
To start his own venture.
After being one unofficially.
He will now officially become S.C. Judge.
I guess Y Security could not give Job Security.#ArnabGoswami
— Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) November 1, 2016
Arnab Goswami quits from Times Now.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) November 1, 2016
The channel thus loses a lot of its value AND ALL ITS VOLUME.
Not many people know about this but Arnab Goswami has already joined Doordarshan Bangla. pic.twitter.com/KBM1MK9Fp0
— José Covaco (@HoeZaay) November 1, 2016
Reactions from AAP headquarters when told about #ArnabGoswami 's resignation from Times Now. #ArnabResigns pic.twitter.com/qUIBEPBtG0
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) November 1, 2016
Some reactions to news of #ArnabGoswami quitting @TimesNow pic.twitter.com/mx4VhCBXEs
— Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) November 1, 2016
Nation wants to know what #ArnabGoswami will now do-
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) November 1, 2016
1. Become Tata Chairman
2. Join Paki Generals
3. Go for Vipassana
4. Join Bigg Boss
#ArnabGoswami quits Times Now to join Indian Army and shoot questions at LOC.
— PhD in Bak***** !! (@Atheist_Krishna) November 1, 2016
. pic.twitter.com/KB6XwgW62j
Tonight on @ndtv and @IndiaToday.
— Arnold's Soundness (@brakoo) November 1, 2016
?? pic.twitter.com/guphLN9a7l
Rajdeep on Dhol, Barkha and Sagarika dancing when they heard that #arnabgoswami resign from Times Now.
— Thakur Baldev Singh (@HathwalaThakur) November 1, 2016
: pic.twitter.com/Lfdio4Kk4y
All other Indian media houses now ?#ArnabGoswami #ArnabResigns #TimesNow ? pic.twitter.com/LDVFWm8VWu
— Rizwan Siddiquee (@BinaryGru) November 1, 2016