Billionaire media tycoons restrict press freedom in India.

Bloomberg reports that since the acquisition of media company New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) by billionaire Gautam Adani, the channel has become the government's propaganda organ. NDTV's new executives are cracking down on journalists' tough questions about the government, the economy, public policy and conflicts. Such changes have raised alarms about press freedom in India.Experts say Adani's rule over NDTV fulfills its various objectives. He calls for noticing when the government is doing something wrong, but also needs to celebrate its achievements. Adani is not the only billionaire in India buying media assets.

Mukesh Ambani, whose interests often align with those of the government, bought Network18 Group, gaining access to more than 70 media outlets followed by at least 800 million Indians.Concerns about narrowing the scope for debate are compounded by changes in the media business. The subscription model has not caught on in India, so publications are forced to rely on advertising from the government and corporations to survive.India ranks 161st out of 180 countries in the latest Press Freedom Index survey. NDTV employees say internal strife at the company has grown since the transfer of shares in Adani's firm. The new executives are micromanaging the flow of information, refusing to publish sensitive stories and favoring light subject matter. NDTV has lost key talent, raising fears of the end of the era of independent journalism