EXCLUSIVE: Austrian Defense Analyst on Indian TV Offered Scripted Commentary for $3,000 Fee

An undercover investigation has revealed that a prominent foreign defense analyst frequently featured on major Indian television news channels offered to provide commentary for a fee of $3,000 per interview and requested a "script" from a potential client posing as an Indian media producer.

The analyst, Tom Cooper—an Austrian historian and author often introduced as a "geopolitical and military expert" on Indian news—was contacted by investigators pretending to represent a new Indian media outlet.

The Sting: A Request for a Script

According to transcripts and evidence reviewed for this report, the exchange proceeded as follows:

1. The Initial Inquiry: Investigators, posing as producers, contacted Cooper via email to inquire about his availability and fee for an interview segment concerning European geopolitics.

2. The Quoted Fee: Cooper responded promptly, stating his standard rate for a 15-20 minute remote interview was US $3,000, payable via bank transfer.

3. The Revealing Request: After the fee was acknowledged, the investigator asked if there were any specific "focus points or narratives" he preferred. In response, Cooper asked, "Could you please send me a script?" This request suggests a willingness to follow prepared talking points provided by the media channel booking him.

Who is Tom Cooper?

Tom Cooper is a well-known figure on the Indian news circuit, particularly on channels like Republic Bharat and Times Now. He is regularly presented as an independent European analyst providing "neutral" or "Western" perspectives on conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine, and NATO, often aligning with viewpoints critical of Pakistan and favorable to Indian strategic interests.

His credentials as a historian of Middle Eastern air forces are legitimate. However, this investigation raises ethical questions about the nature of paid media appearances where financial transactions and potential scripting could blur the line between independent analysis and paid advocacy.

Ethical Breach and Industry Reaction

Media ethicists contacted for this story expressed serious concern.

"This is a clear violation of the fundamental covenant between a news audience and an analyst presented as an expert," said Dr. Anya Sharma, Professor of Media Ethics at the University of Delhi. "When an expert is paid directly by the channel—and worse, is open to following a script—it ceases to be independent analysis. It becomes paid performance, undermining public trust entirely."

A senior producer at a major Indian news network, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "It's an open secret that some foreign analysts are on the payroll. But to have it so blatantly confirmed, with a request for a script, is shocking even by today's standards. It reduces complex international affairs to a paid infomercial."

The Larger Context: The "Foreign Expert" Ecosystem

This revelation sheds light on a broader ecosystem where Indian news channels frequently feature a rotation of non-Indian analysts from countries like the UK, US, Israel, and Europe. While many are respected academics, the practice of direct payment for specific appearances has long been a subject of industry speculation.

Critics argue this system allows channels to "weaponize Western faces" to validate specific geopolitical narratives, lending them an air of external objectivity. The request for a script indicates that in some cases, this "validation" may be pre-packaged and financially driven.

Response and Fallout

Attempts to reach Tom Cooper for comment were unsuccessful prior to publication. The investigation's evidence, including email correspondence, will be published in full.

Major television networks that have regularly featured Cooper, including Republic TV and Times Now, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on their booking policies or whether they were aware of analysts requesting scripts from producers.