The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) has strongly condemned the reported retrenchment of more than 120 employees from the TV Today Network, calling the layoffs "arbitrary" and urging affected media professionals to organise and fight for their rights.
In a statement, the journalists' body alleged that the retrenchments took place between July 20 and July 24, with employees reportedly being summoned individually by the Human Resources department and informed that their services had been terminated without any explanation.
According to the DUJ, employees—including several who had worked with the network for over a decade—were allegedly given two options: sign a pre-prepared resignation letter and accept two months' full salary, or face formal termination with only two months' basic wages. They were also reportedly asked to immediately surrender their laptops and identity cards before leaving the Noida office.
The union said the affected employees included journalists associated with the Aaj Tak digital platform, Aaj Tak Radio, and technical personnel involved in video production, graphics and camera operations.
The DUJ said the episode reflects the growing vulnerability of media employees following the implementation of the new labour codes, which replaced several earlier labour laws, including the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees Act, 1955. The union argued that the absence of strong trade unions in the television news industry has further weakened employees' ability to challenge such actions.
The union also criticised what it described as a growing trend of "hire-and-fire" practices in the television news industry. It alleged that despite receiving substantial advertising revenues over the years, including significant government advertising, television news companies are increasingly resorting to workforce reductions as audiences and advertisers shift towards digital and social media platforms. Industry analysts have noted that traditional television news broadcasters continue to face pressure from changing audience consumption patterns and the migration of advertising spending to digital platforms. �
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Referring specifically to TV Today Network, the DUJ claimed that while the company witnessed a decline in revenue during the previous financial year, its balance sheet as of March 2026 reflected capital reserves of around ₹861 crore, besides substantial tangible assets, including properties.
The union expressed concern over reports that further job cuts may follow and appealed to television journalists across organisations to unionise in order to safeguard their employment rights.
Offering support to the retrenched employees, the DUJ said it was prepared to provide legal assistance to those wishing to challenge the layoffs.
The press release was issued by Sujata Madhok, President, S.K. Pande, Vice-President, and A.M. Jigeesh, General Secretary of the Delhi Union of Journalists.
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