Sanket Upadhyay, a prominent television news anchor and veteran journalist with over two decades of experience, announced his return to the digital media landscape through the launch of two new YouTube channels, Double Check and Awadh Punch.
The announcement marks Upadhyay’s formal entry into independent digital content creation following a four-month hiatus from the industry.
Upadhyay, who previously held senior editorial positions at major networks like NDTV and CNN-News18, stated that his new venture aims to address the erosion of factual integrity in the current news cycle.
The protagonist of the network’s cultural expansion is Madhuker Upadhyay, a seasoned veteran of the Press Trust of India (PTI) and the BBC World Service. As the founder of Awadh Punch, the elder Upadhyay will lead a channel dedicated to the stories, history, and linguistic heritage of the Awadh region in Uttar Pradesh.
The channel draws its name and inspiration from the historical 19th-century satirical publications of the same name, seeking to revive regional narratives through digital video.
Sanket Upadhyay explained that his flagship channel, Double Check, is designed to combat the “race for popularity” that often leads to the spread of misinformation.
He emphasised a commitment to verifying data twice before forming editorial opinions, a practice he believes is increasingly rare in an era dominated by rapid AI-generated content and social media echo chambers.
The channel intends to focus on consumer awareness and investigative storytelling rather than high-decibel debates or breaking news speed.
The launch follows a personal period of reflection for Upadhyay after the passing of his mother, Kumud Upadhyay, in late 2025.
He noted that the decision to move into the independent creator space was driven by the direct support of his digital audience, which he describes as a “new family” built over 24 years in mainstream journalism.
By transitioning to YouTube, Upadhyay joins a growing cohort of veteran Indian journalists who are bypassing traditional television networks to build direct-to-consumer news brands.
Sanket Upadhyay began his career in print journalism in 2002 before becoming a household name in Indian television news, known for his calm moderating style and political reporting.
His collaborator, Madhuker Upadhyay, is a prolific author of more than 70 books and is widely regarded as an authority on Hindi and Awadhi literature and history.
The Double Check Network enters a competitive Indian YouTube market where news and current affairs remain one of the fastest-growing categories for regional language speakers.
