News Broadcasting
ABP Majha’s ‘Bappa Majha’ returns to bring the magic of Ganesh Utsav to every home
Mumbai: ABP Majha, Maharashtra’s leading Marathi news channel, has announced the return of its much-celebrated program, Bappa Majha 2024. Starting from September 7, this flagship coverage will bring the vibrant festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi directly into the homes of millions across the state and beyond, capturing the essence of one of Maharashtra’s most cherished festivals.
This year’s Bappa Majha theme, “Pahuya Utsava Anandacha” (Let’s Watch the Festival of Happiness), epitomizes the spirit of Ganesh Utsav, a celebration that unites hearts, spreads joy, and strengthens community bonds. Through Bappa Majha 2024, ABP Majha invites viewers to partake in this collective celebration, reflecting the channel’s unwavering commitment to showcasing the true essence of Ganesh Utsav.
The program line-up for Bappa Majha 2024 promises to enhance the festival’s vibrant culture, blending reverence with excitement to bring the celebration into every home:
. Morning & Evening Aarti – The viewers would begin and end their days with the sacred hymns of live Aartis from Maharashtra’s renowned Ganpati temples, infusing all-things-auspicious in the lives of people. These broadcasts offer a window into the spiritual heart of the festival, allowing audiences to engage with the devotional practices that are the cornerstone of Ganesh Chaturthi.
. Ganesh Pujan – A special 30-minute segment will bring the Ganesh Pooja Sthapana and Aarti from ABP Majha’s Mumbai office, offering a glimpse into the channel’s own celebration of the festival
. Bappa Majha Bulletin – Over the course of 10 days, this special bulletin will traverse Maharashtra, capturing the diverse and vibrant celebrations from various towns and cities. From intricate pandal decorations to community festivities, the bulletin will showcase the state’s united devotion to Bappa.
. Kaladhipati- An exclusive journey with some of Maharashtra’s most beloved celebrities as they visit and showcase the iconic Ganesh pandals in their neighbourhoods.
. Anant Chaturdashi Special Coverage – On the final day, Bappa Majha will provide a full day of coverage for the Visarjan, capturing the emotional and grand farewell to Lord Ganesha. This special broadcast will show the processions and rituals across Maharashtra, so that viewers do not miss a moment of this powerful conclusion to Ganeshoutsav.
In line with this year’s theme, ABP Majha has also launched the “Maha Ganesh Mandal Contest”, celebrating the creativity and dedication behind Ganesh Pandal decorations. This contest invites Ganesh Mandals from East Vidharbha, West Vidharbha, Marathwada, North Kokan, South Kokan, North Maharashtra, Mumbai, and Western Maharashtra to submit their most innovative and visually striking pandals. The top three entries from each region, recognised for their creativity, visual appeal and social message will be awarded by ABP Majha.
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.
