News Broadcasting
Aap Ki Adalat’ episode featuring Kapil Sharma hits another high
Mumbai: Beating its competitors in the recent viewership face-off, the headline-making India TV show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ has again emerged as one of the most watched Hindi language talks shows within its genre. In the latest viewership data revealed by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the show featuring comedian Kapil Sharma was the most watched as compared to other talk shows which aired on the same evening featuring the latter.
Kapil Sharma, appeared on three National Hindi News channels- India TV’s ‘Aap Ki Adalat,’ Aaj Tak’s ‘Seedhi Baat’ and ABP News’s Press Conference. All these interviews aired on 11th March in the evening Prime Time and India TV gained about 5.1 million All India Cum-Reach as per BARC and 19.6 million video views across YouTube and Facebook.
As per BARC data, on Saturday Aap Ki Adalat garnered 1238 Gross AMA 000s (between 10 pm to 11 pm) while Seedhi Baat garnered 1115 Gross AMA 000s (between 9 pm to 10 pm) and for Press Conference, it was 607 Gross AMA 000s (between 8 pm to 9 pm) among 15+ HSM Audience.
Based on the overall all-time rating, the country’s most-talked show ‘Aap Ki Adalat,’ hosted by India TV Editor-in-Chief and Chairman Rajat Sharma, topped the chart and maintained the position of being the No 1. The other two shows were at No. 5 (Aaj Tak’s Seedhi Baat) and No. 8 (ABP News’s Press Conference) in its time band.
Not only Liener TV, but the episode’s viewership was also much higher than its competition on the digital platforms. On YouTube, India TV records 3.5 Mn views whereas Aaj Tak has 2.1 Mn and ABP News has 0.8 Mn views on Kapil Sharma interview content. Inline to YouTube, Same Aap Ki Adalat content records 16.1 Mn video views followed by ABP News 6 Mn. And Aaj Tak 1.16 Mn total video views on Facebook. (Source: YouTube & Facebook, Publicly Published videos at mentioned Channel/pages, Total views till 22nd March)
Speaking about this latest milestone, India TV managing director Ritu Dhawan said, “Aap Ki Adalat has a rich legacy of almost 30 years. In this time, the media landscape has now completely changed. However, despite this evolution, Aap ki Adalat has been able to maintain its essence. The uniqueness, the exclusiveness of this platform, is still there. Hence, for the audience, it is one of the most loved shows. Moving forward, our aim is to continue to bring authentic news for the viewers in the years to maintain our position.”
In the latest BARC report released just two weeks ago, India TV emerged as the undisputed leader during the Northeast Election Results Day coverage among national Hindi news channels. The new data just highlights the popularity of the channel that has been providing credible news to the people for the past two decades.
This was not the first time when comedian Kapil Sharma appeared on ‘Aap Ki Adalat.’ The show got the same response in 2015 when he took the stand for the first time to answer the intense questions of Rajat Sharma. Given the popularity of the channel among the Hindi language audience of the country, it served as the best platform for him to interact with the masses.
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.
