News Broadcasting
Republic Media Network continues its winning streak in English & Bangla market
Mumbai: Republic Media Network’s Republic TV and Republic Bangla have emerged in the pole position, as per the recent Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) news rating. With this, the broadcaster claims to establish an undisputed dominance across the English and Bangla market.
According to the Barc data of week 13, Republic Media Network has once again emerged as a clear, decisive and undisputed leader in the English news genre with its 39.3 per cent market share, and Republic Bangla with 27.4 per cent.
On the other hand, Republic TV has continued its unbeaten run across all-time bands in the English news genre. In the West Bengal market, Republic Bangla has unseated ABP Ananda once again, the two-decade-old news leader in the genre, as the top Bengali news channel. The regional news channel has recorded a market share of 27.1 per cent.
Maintaining the winning streak, Republic Bharat has maintained its convincing lead above Aaj Tak.
Republic Media Network has reached approximately 145 million or 14.5 crore viewers in the last week alone and 303 million or 30.3 crore viewers across India in a four-week period. As India’s largest news network, Republic’s viewership numbers across regions, time bands, and languages in a period where the world is banking on breaking news on television have conclusively established it as India’s top choice. The widening of the gap over the number 2 channels, respectively in the English, Hindi, and Bengali news genre, is a testament to the sensational network win of Republic Media Network.
Republic TV’s thundering all-day all-India ratings continue to be almost 12 percent higher or 1.5 times of the number 2 channel Times Now. In fact, this week Republic TV is 165 percent greater than Times Now and 238 per cent greater than India Today in terms of viewership across India and across Times bands. This establishes the dominance that India’s top English news channel holds and the consistency with which it has become India’s uncontested news destination across the board.
Republic TV has established an expansive presence across the war zone in Ukraine and Russia and has activated its wide global reporter base to ensure that it has leaped miles ahead of the competition on the big global story, something that the competition can’t match.
Republic Bangla has broken all records by unseating ABP Ananda strongly for the fourth consecutive week. Establishing itself as the decisive new news leader in the Bengali news genre, Republic Bangla has emerged as the top choice in the Bengali news genre across all-time bands. From its breaking news formats, its deep investigations on ground in Bengal, its unparalleled regional and global reportage, and the most dynamic on-air team, Republic Bangla has brought with it a new wave in journalism in Bengal. Republic Bangla is the channel of choice for the people of Bengal.
A week after week lead over Aaj Tak in the Hindi news genre, Republic Bharat has brought a new order to Hindi news television. With its dedicated 100 percent news format and extensive on-ground reporting within India as well as from the War zone, Republic Bharat has become the undisputed choice for Hindi news viewers as it defeats legacy media once again.
The superstorm of Republic Bharat continues once again with the Network’s Hindi news channel dominating with record-breaking viewership in the primetime slot. Aaj Tak has slipped to the third position, while Republic Bharat continues to be India’s top choice in the most-critical time band of ‘Poochta Hai Bharat.’
Republic Media Network has, with its nation-first, news-first, and people-first approach, resonated with viewers across languages. We are deeply indebted to our millions of viewers and supporters across the country and the world who have remained unwavering in their support of our journalism. We shall always undauntingly bring you the news and coverage that India expects from the news leader.
News Broadcasting
GenNext takes charge as Network18 reshuffles leadership
With Avinash Kaul bowing out, Network18 hands reins to younger leaders, streamlines operations, and pushes data-driven growth across TV, digital and regional markets
MUMBAI: Network18 is redrawing its leadership map just as a long-time lieutenant bows out. Avinash Kaul, a central figure in the broadcaster’s rise since 2014, is leaving after 12 years to pursue “professional and personal goals”, triggering a broad-based reshuffle that puts a younger cohort directly under the top brass.
Kaul joined at a pivotal moment during the company’s transition and went on to scale the television business, combining strategic nous with data-led decision-making and a sharp read of the news landscape. “Avinash has been an integral part of the Network18 story,” the company said, thanking him for his leadership of the broadcast business and wishing him the best for the future.
In his wake, Network18 is betting on what it calls a “young and restless” leadership bench. “The team has taken charge and proved its mettle in quite adverse circumstances,” the note said, adding that “GenNext has seamlessly stepped in as we continue to outperform our peers.”
Operationally, the structure is being flattened. Smriti Mehra, S Shivakumar and Mitul Sangani will work directly with the top leadership, as they did in the fourth quarter. Ganesh Iyer and Abhinay Chauhan continue in their existing roles, while younger executives are being handed wider mandates across social, digital, connected TV and linear.
The reporting lines are being tightened to drive revenue and product momentum. Prabhat Chatterjee, business head–Forbes, and Arun Thapar, president–content and communication for AETN-18, will report to Smriti Mehra, alongside Mallika Nath Handa, who will lead special projects spanning new shows and non-linear properties. Jayesh Gokalgandhi, CFO for AETN-18, will report to Ramesh Damani.
Mitul Sangani will oversee expansion in Hindi and regional markets, with Sidharth Newatia, CRO–ILC, focusing on reach and revenue growth, particularly in tier-II and III markets. Pankaj Soni, head of marketing–ILC, will also report to Sangani while working functionally with Ganesh Iyer.
The group is also consolidating its branded content play. Moneycontrol’s branded content business will be folded into News18 Studio, with Don Zarrar moving to work with Shivakumar while continuing to lead existing studio and Focus teams.
International and platform growth are being bundled together. Pranav Bakshi takes on additional charge of the international business alongside connected TV and social platforms, with Naveen Mathur, who leads revenue management for the international unit, reporting to him. Bakshi continues to report to Puneet Singhvi.
On the technology and operations side, Rajesh Sharma, head of broadcast technology and IT; Rahul Singh, head of events and technical operations; and Bhupender Bhardwaj, head of IT security, will now report to Singhvi. Darshil Parekh, head of sales strategy, planning and operations, will work directly with Ramesh Damani and the top leadership, with Stanley Cyril, who manages digital sales operations, reporting to him.
Data is being pushed to the centre of decision-making. Jitamitra Mohanty, who leads research and analytics, will now work with Santosh Menon to turn audience data into “actionable insights that drive content strategy, product innovation and sustainable viewership growth”.
The message is clear: fewer layers, faster calls, sharper bets. With Kaul’s exit closing one chapter, Network18 is handing the wheel to a younger crew and doubling down on scale across screens. The race, it signals, will be run at full tilt.
