News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak grabs 19% market share during election coverage
MUMBAI: Aaj Tak has acquired 19 per cent of Hindi News channel market share on counting day of Maharashtra and Haryana state assembly elections 2019. The channel was ahead with 27 million more impressions than the next channel.
The data released by BARC is evident in how the viewers continue to prefer the India Today Group when it comes to 360-degree election coverage.
The India Today Group’s Axis My India exit poll, accurately predicted the outcome of the State Assembly Elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, while most other media outlets faltered. On-the-ground reporting, accurate exit polls prediction and the use of state-of-the-art tools for election coverage on a large scale led the group to the No.1 position.
On the counting day, Aaj Tak’s share was 19 per cent of all 14 Hindi news channels, placing it on the topmost rung of the ladder when it comes to viewership. India’s most-watched Hindi news channel, Aaj Tak, was 27 million gross impressions ahead of ABP News that held the No.2 position. During the hours when the votes were being counted, Aaj Tak’s viewership surpassed that of other TV channels like Sony TV, Zee TV and Colors.
(Source – BARC, TG- 15+, Market – HSM, Time Band – 8:00 to 18:00 hrs). In the 15+ M AB TG, Aaj Tak was the No.1 TV Channel in HSM Market(Source – BARC, Market – HSM, Time Band – 8:00 to 18:00 hrs)
|
Channel |
WK43'19 |
|
Aaj Tak |
126137 |
|
ABP News |
98751 |
|
India TV |
95809 |
|
News18 India |
95468 |
|
Zee News |
89434 |
|
Republic Bharat |
84704 |
|
News Nation |
53842 |
|
News 24 |
41856 |
|
TV9 Bharatvarsh |
41572 |
|
Tez |
36388 |
|
India News |
26974 |
|
NDTV India |
19771 |
|
Zee Hindustan |
19629 |
|
DD News |
8552 |
*Source – BARC, 15+, HSM, G Imp’000
|
Channel |
Shr% |
|
Aaj Tak |
19.0 |
|
ABP News |
16.0 |
|
NDTV India |
2.0 |
|
News 24 |
6.0 |
|
News Nation |
5.0 |
|
Zee News |
10.0 |
|
India TV |
11.0 |
|
India News |
3.0 |
|
DD News |
1.0 |
|
Tez |
3.0 |
|
News18 India |
10.0 |
|
Zee Hindustan |
3.0 |
|
Republic Bharat |
9.0 |
|
TV9 Bharatvarsh |
4.0 |
*Source: BARC, TG: 15+ NCCS ALL, Mkt: HSM, Period: 24th Oct’19, TB:0800-2400Hrs, Market shr% based on 14 Hindi News Channels.
India Today TV was also on the No.1 position in the English news genre, surpassing channels like Times Now, Republic TV, NDTV 24×7 among others. On the polling day and the counting day combined, it recorded the highest number of gross impressions in all the megacities of India.
|
Channel |
Gross Imp'000s |
|
India Today Television |
109 |
|
Times Now |
101 |
|
Republic |
90 |
|
NDTV 24×7 |
34 |
|
CNN News 18 |
25 |
|
Mirror Now |
15 |
|
Wion |
4 |
|
India Ahead |
1 |
|
News X |
0 |
*Source : BARC, Market: Megacities, TG: Males 22+AB,Dates: 21st Oct'19 & 24th Oct'19,Gross imp'000s.
India Today TV increased its viewership by 149.6 per cent compared to the previous week.
|
Channel |
WK42'19 |
WK43'19 |
Growth Compare to last week |
|
India Today Television |
87 |
218 |
149.6% |
|
Times Now |
152 |
219 |
44.5% |
|
Republic TV |
158 |
227 |
43.9% |
|
CNN News18 |
43 |
60 |
40.0% |
|
NDTV 24×7 |
45 |
58 |
29.5% |
|
Mirror Now |
50 |
47 |
-5.8% |
|
Wion |
38 |
22 |
-42.6% |
|
India Ahead |
4 |
10 |
133.7% |
|
News X |
8 |
2 |
-74.5% |
*Source – BARC, 22+ M AB, Period as per below table, Gimp’000)
It may be recalled that during the General Elections in May 2019, the picture was not very different. Aaj Tak and the India Today TV ruled the poll viewership, with 13 crore viewers tuning into Aaj Tak on the counting day alone (Universe, All India, Counting Day) and being the most watched channel across genres. India Today TV had not only beaten the other English news channels but also recorded a viewership that was higher than other English infotainment and entertainment channels (NCCS A, Megacities, Counting Day).
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
