Renowned Indian journalist and author Ravish Kumar, once the Senior Executive Editor of NDTV India, has transitioned to YouTube, where he now surpasses his former employer in terms of popularity. Kumar, who initially joined NDTV as a translator in 1996, gained widespread recognition for his shows such as Hum Log, Ravish ki Report, Des Ki Baat, and Prime Time.
However, citing concerns about press freedom after the Adani group’s acquisition of NDTV, Kumar resigned from the network on November 30, 2022. By December 2022, the Adani Group had acquired a 64.71% stake in NDTV, surpassing the founding owners’ 32.26% stake, thus gaining maximum control over the network.
Kumar, like many others, was upset by the Adani Group’s acquisition of NDTV. He feared it would allow the government of India to control Indian media and restrict free speech.
But after transitioning to YouTube, Kumar’s popularity has soared, surpassing that of his former employer NDTV. In a surprising turn of events, Ravish Kumar, former Senior Executive Editor of NDTV India, has become more famous than the channel itself after transitioning to YouTube.
Like most other journalists, Rather than joining another news channel, Kumar chose to become a fearless voice by starting his own YouTube channel named Ravish Kumar Official.
Despite initial struggles, Kumar’s channel quickly gained traction, amassing a staggering 8.96 million subscribers within just one year, with the count soon to cross the 9 million mark. Although NDTV India boasts a subscriber base of around 16 million, it’s noteworthy that the channel’s first video was published 11 years ago, while Kumar’s channel started just a year ago.
This remarkable growth rate underscores Kumar’s influence on his subscribers who actively listen the fearless voice of the journalist turned YouTuber. Moreover, while NDTV’s video views lag behind, with hardly achieving 1k views, Kumar’s videos on YouTube garner millions of views daily.
However, Netzines highlight that Kumar’s channel, with millions of views per month, generates substantial income, potentially surpassing the 4-5 crore rupees he earned annually at NDTV India before resignation.
Known for his articulate presentation and bold stance on pressing issues, Kumar has garnered accolades including the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award for Best Journalist of the Year twice and the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2019, cementing his status as a prominent Indian journalist and media personality.
