Prannoy Roy Net Worth: Former Executive Co-Chairperson of NDTV

When we talk about Indian television and journalism, we can’t ignore Prannoy Roy’s contribution. It could be that you might not have seen who he is or his face, but you may have already heard of his name many times, right? Well, just so you know, Prannoy Roy is actually the co-founder of the news channel, NDTV (New Delhi Television), which is one of the most recognized news networks in India. One thing we can say for sure is that he is a highly respected name in the field of Indian journalism and it is particularly his expositive coverage and polling of the elections that defines the man.

The vast majority of Indians have turned to him as the face of reliable news on television and through NDTV, he has had a significant part in determining how news is consumed in India. As for those who are here just for the financial number, well, we’d like to tell you that Prannoy Roy’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. But still, it is worthwhile to take a good look at his life story, and that’s precisely what we are up to today.

Early Life and Education

For those who don’t know anything about this man, well, on October 15, 1949, in Kolkata, India, Prannoy Roy was born into a family of great significance. Like, the grandfather of his family, Paresh Lal Roy, is the person to remember his name as the one who brought boxing to the Indian scenario. In addition to that, he is related to the famous author Arundhati Roy, who is his cousin.

Prannoy’s educational career started at The Doon School, one of India’s most distinguished educational systems. And just so you know, he then followed that by studying Economics at the Queen Mary University of London in the UK. He didn’t stop there, but he also completed the Chartered Accountant qualification, which is a degree with high regard in the world of finance. Though, he also added another feather to his cap by completing a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the Delhi School of Economics, which further added to his academic expertise.

Founding NDTV and Rise to Prominence

NDTV was created and founded by Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy in 1984, which literally was a big step in the pioneering years of Indian media. At a time when there were no private television channels in India, NDTV was one of the first to boldly introduce independent news content. Initially, they were a production house for Doordarshan and other international channels.

In 1984, when the general elections were held, it was Prannoy’s analysis that formed the basis for the news he presented and he broke the conventional way of political reporting on Indian television, did you know that already? It is said that from the very start, he had an exceptional, data-driven analysis that provided a different understanding of the elections to the viewers. He also soon became the best-loved person in homes, especially with the help of his popular show The World This Week, which presented Chinese and Indian thorough coverage of foreign events. Not just that though, his calm and incredibly professional style on the screen also made him quite a big role in the eyes of news media as well as the general public.

Adani Group’s Acquisition

To be honest, it was indeed a significant turning point for NDTV that happened in 2022, you know, when the Adani Group headed by Gautam Adani, the richest man in India, became the controlling owner of the firm. In this purchase, the Roys sold 27.26% of their shares, thus ending their direct involvement in the network they had created, you know? It is believed that the deal led to the Roys making ₹602 crore.

Well, there were fears that the takeover might interfere with the editorial freedom of NDTV since it was believed that the Adani Group had close links to the current government. However, despite this worry, the media mogul Prannoy Roy’s status as a top figure in Indian journalism has not been touched and his effect on the way news is reported in India continues to exist.