News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak shinning: AC Nielsen study
According to a press release issued by Aaj Tak, the study claims that Aaj Tak has a Brand Equity Index of 4.3 among the news channels, which is more than twice that of its nearest competitor.
At 42 per cent, Aaj Tak also has the highest top-of-mind awareness amongst the news channels followed by Star News and Zee News.
The study was conducted by AC Nielsen to understand the brand equity and perceptions of various news channels and to determine the factors that drive news viewership.
The study was conducted by AC Nielsen to understand the brand equity and perceptions of various news channels and to determine the factors that drive news viewership.
The news channels market is becoming fiercely competitive. In fact, news has emerged as a genre that has the maximum number of channels in India, offers the official statement from TV Today Network.
Rather than focusing on just the rating of the various news channels, the AC Nielsen study also analysed the factors that affect the way in which a channel is perceived by viewers, which in turn impacts both viewership and loyalty.
The study established Aaj Tak as an unbiased channel that focuses on each story with the aim of not just delivering it to the viewers in the best and fastest manner, but also brings about reform.
Other key findings includes:
Aaj Tak is the most preferred channel in the news genre
News bulletins are the most preferred news programme, followed by political interviews
Business news and news-based discussions are preferred primarily by SEC A
Driving force for news channel choice are:
Reliability of news
Relevance of news items for viewer
News that instills social responsibility
Creates awareness and understanding of critical issues
Variety of topics and areas covered
This is not the first time that Aaj Tak has been acknowledged as the leader in the news genre. In the Brand Derby survey conducted by Business Standard (Strategist) in 2003, Aaj Tak was the only channel that featured in the list of very successful brand launches in the past seven years.
In Brand Derby 2002, Aaj Tak was the only media brand to be featured amongst the most successful brands. In the last three years, Aaj Tak has won five ‘Best News Channel’ awards, apart from innumerable other awards in various categories.
Needless to add, Aaj Tak claims, its extremely high brand equity is a function of a potent mix of incredible content management, along with the phenomenal success of its sales, marketing and distribution.
The AC Nielsen study was undertaken in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata, and was based on exhaustive interviews with males in the SEC category A/B/C in the age group 25-50.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
