News Broadcasting
BBC.com sees record traffic in India post Brexit results
MUMBAI: Indians seeking the latest on the UK’s vote to leave the European Union have helped BBC.com reach a record breaking spike in traffic. On the day the historic result became clear– June 24, the BBC’s international news services were in demand as people around the world sought to understand what the next steps are and what it could mean for them.
Operating a dedicated url during the campaign at bbc.com/eureferendum and following up with bbc.com/brexit to bring audiences updates after the result, meant the global news platform has been able to provide a continuing wealth of content drawing on the BBC’s network of experienced correspondents particularly across politics, business and finance (such as EU referendum: Will India benefit from Brexit? and UK starts post-Brexit trade talks with India)
Globally BBC.com attracted more than 21million unique browsers and 114million page views on results day (Friday 24hJune) alone – with 30million unique browsers and 170million page views across the weekend*.
In India alone, unique browsers increased by 170% with page views going up by 324%, when compared to the average daily amount in May 2016 as per Adobe Digital Analytix.
Page views per browser stood at 3.9 on the day of the result which was +56% compared to average daily figure in May 2016*. Even after the initial furore around the result had died down in India the daily average of unique browsers and page views was still 44% and 43% more respectively after 72hours, than the average daily traffic for May*.
Speaking about the spike in traffic, BBC Global News COO Naveen Jhunjhunwala said,“These record figures are testament to the effort of the BBC World News teams, as they have worked tirelessly to help our global audiences make sense of this historic and fast paced story. That so many people, not just in India but around the world, made BBC.com their go to place for impartial trusted, information and analysis on the decision by UK voters to leave the European Union is incredibly heartening.”
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
