MUMBAI: 'We are making headlines!' Or so claims Headlines Today. India Today's English news channel claims that they have been providing relevant information in a format that is tailor-made to suit the needs of the time conscious viewer and resulting in a fillip in the audience loyalty for the channel.

Quoting the Tam figures for the week 39, Headlines Today claims that they command 35 per cent market share in prime time amongst the English news channels in six metros. The ratings, as quoted in a company release, equals that of NDTV 24X7 and likes of CNN, BBC and CNBC are trailing behind. According to the release, the channel has managed to score an ace over rest owing to their quality news programs, strategically slotted and timed, have climbed their way up the TRP ladder and are giving stiff competition to established channels.

The flagship programmes that have helped the channel are Head Start, Top 5, and Sports Quarter, which have emerged leaders in their time-band across other English news channels. While Head Start, slotted in the morning band, provides news to the professional in a compact 15 minute wheel, Top Five Today satiates the viewer by providing the top five developments of the day. Sports Quarter, a fifteen minute program repeated twice a day throughout the week gives news on sports.

According to the release, Head Start has gained popularity as it provides all the news in a compact 15 minute wheel. The prime time programming Top Five Today has helped the channel equal viewership to the India Business Hour on CNBC and the 9 o'clock news on NDTV 24X7. Meanwhile, Sports Quarter's viewership is equal to combined viewership of NDTV 24X7 and CNBC for the same time slot

In addition to that, Headlines Today has programs designed specially to be aired during the India-Australia series. Cricketing Icons Sourav Ganguly and Shane Warne share their views exclusively in Captain Speak, and Warne’s Spin on select match days. The other programs which have been lined up for the series are Final Frontier and Wisden Show, which has helped the channel solidify its position in the news channel genre.

The channel, claims the release, has many other programming initiatives in the pipeline that are due to roll out in the next one month.