Reports circulating on Wednesday claimed that Indian news channels hacked incidents disrupted the broadcasts of two regional television networks during the Indian president’s address. The reports alleged that the channels’ transmission systems were compromised, though no official confirmation was immediately available.
According to the reports, the affected broadcasters were TV9 Telugu and Freedom TV Kannada. It was claimed that unknown hackers gained access to their broadcasting systems and interrupted regular programming during the live transmission.
The reports further alleged that Pakistan’s national anthem was briefly aired on TV9 Telugu during the presidential speech. They also claimed that a message was displayed warning India against taking action against Pakistan. These claims have not been independently verified.
Following the reported incident, broadcasts on both channels were said to have been affected. The reports noted that TV9 Telugu has a large social media audience, while Freedom TV Kannada also maintains a significant online following.
Neither the two broadcasters nor Indian authorities had officially confirmed the alleged cyberattack or commented publicly on the reported disruption at the time the claims circulated. The source of the alleged hacking also remains unknown.
Cybersecurity experts generally note that media organizations remain potential targets for cyberattacks because of their public visibility and reliance on digital broadcasting infrastructure. Investigations are typically required before the cause and scope of any reported intrusion can be established.
If confirmed, the Indian news channels hacked incident would raise fresh concerns about the cybersecurity of broadcast networks. Until official findings are released, however, the reported claims should be treated as unverified.
