News Broadcasting
BBC radio service suffers declining listenership
MUMBAI: It is cementing its position as the world’s leading international radio broadcaster. However, in India as in other countries, BBC World Service is grappling with a major decline in its listenership.
In a recent report, it admitted to having suffered major setbacks in India over the past year. It claims a weekly global audience estimate of 146 million.
Besides India, BBC World Service also experienced significant losses in Western Europe, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Russia.
Meanwhile, the above mentioned 146 million figure equates to at least 50 per cent more listeners than any comparable international radio broadcaster. The bad news is that the figure represents a four million drop from last year’s figure of 150 million. The figure took into account a significant drop in short wave radio listening year-on-year. This has been partially offset by a big rise in listening through FM.
BBC World Service’s acting director Nigel Chapman noted that short wave listening is in long term decline. “Audiences demand better audibility. It is sometimes difficult to find suitable FM partners in some countries or to overcome regulatory obstacles, like bans on international news broadcasting on local FMs, in others.”
BBC World Service is now available on FM in 139 capital cities. On a bright note it added that independent surveys conducted in top markets also showed that it remained the most trusted and objective international broadcaster when compared to its main radio competitors in each market. The survey was done in 16 markets including the US, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia.
In Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, BBC World Service claims to enjoy a 60 per cent weekly reach. In Iraq, the launch of FM broadcasts in Baghdad, Basra and other major cities helped to secure a weekly audience of 1.8 million.
Nearly half of its total audience comes from Africa and the Middle East. Audiences across both regions increased by 6.8 million from last year to 68.5 million.
Online BBC World Service has been able to extend its reach particularly among younger audiences. The website attracted 279 million monthly page impressions in March 2004. This equates to over 16 million unique users a month. This is a rise equivalent to eight million new monthly users of the BBC’s international news sites during the 13 months between February 2003 and March 2004.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
