News Broadcasting
#AajTakSabseTez campaign’s 3rd Film ‘Afwaah’ is creating ripples in the Indian news ecosystem
New Delhi: As part of the on-going #AajTakSabseTez campaign, the nation’s undisputed No.1 news channel AajTak, today launched the third film of the series. The film titled ‘Afwaah’ features AajTak’s star anchor Anjana Om Kashyap and demonstrates the adverse effects of rumour mongeringin news which if unchecked poses a danger to the society at large. What makes the film really interesting is its tongue in cheek style, shot in a salon setting, which also happens to be the epicentre of all random national and political news & opinions.
Conceptualised and directed by the widely acclaimed Writer-Director Pradeep Sarkar, #AajTakSabseTezcampaign is a satirical take on the current news environment in the country and entertainingly highlights the relaxed standards of reporting by some players in the age of fake news. While the first film ‘SachKa Band’ brought to light the exaggerationof events while presenting the news, the second film ‘Achaar Gully’ highlights the importance of credibility over sensationalism and how AajTak does not conform to the growing trend of spicing up news.
Being the most watched and trusted News Channel in India for 20 years, AajTak and its brave journalists have brought a ringside view of every major happening in the country. While many news outlets may have clear leanings, AajTak has always taken the middle ground, without any bias. As the depth of echo chambers increases, the need for a shared platform where both sides can be heard is essential. A place where people can agree to disagree is the need of the hour. AajTak is that listening room, that middle ground for the two sides to continue a meaningful dialogue.
These films while depicting AajTak’s relentless pursuit to always side with the truth, are equally sure to put a smile on your face!
News Broadcasting
News TV viewership jumps 33 per cent as West Asia war draws audiences
BARC Week 8 data shows news share rising to 8 per cent despite T20 World Cup
NEW DELHI: Even as individual television news channel ratings remain under a temporary pause, the genre itself is seeing a clear surge in audience attention.
According to the latest data from Broadcast Audience Research Council India, television news recorded a 33 per cent jump in genre share in Week 8 of 2026, covering February 28 to March 6.
The news genre accounted for 8 per cent of total television viewership during the week, up from 6 per cent the previous week. The spike in attention coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have kept global headlines firmly fixed on West Asia.
The rise is notable because it came at a time when cricket was dominating television screens. The high-stakes stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the Super 8 fixtures and semi-finals, were being broadcast during the same period.
Despite the cricket frenzy, viewers appeared to be toggling between sport and global affairs, boosting the overall share of news programming.
The surge in genre share comes even as the government has enforced a one-month pause on publishing ratings for individual news channels. The move followed regulatory scrutiny of the television ratings ecosystem.
While channel-level rankings remain temporarily out of sight, the genre-level data suggests that when global tensions escalate, audiences continue to turn to television news for real-time updates.
