News Broadcasting
ABP Ananda returns with culinary extravaganza “Kolkata Khaibaar Pass 2.0”
Mumbai: ABP Ananda, West Bengal’s Bengali news channel, is delighted to unveil the highly anticipated ABP Ananda Kolkata Khaibaar Pass 2.0, a culinary celebration set to enchant South Kolkata. This event builds on the monumental success of its 10th-anniversary edition in North Kolkata earlier in January 2024, marking a historic moment as ABP Ananda embarks on organising two Khaibaar Pass celebrations in Kolkata within a single calendar year for the first time. The festivities will unfold at the EEDF Ground near South City Mall, Kolkata from 15 to 17 March 2024.
Acknowledging the overwhelming response received from the recent 10th-anniversary edition in North Kolkata, ABP Ananda recognises the enthusiasm of the people and their appetite for celebrating Bengal’s diverse culinary heritage. In an effort to extend this culinary jubilation to a broader audience, the festival will showcase the epitome of Bengali cuisine to people in South Kolkata.
Continuing its legacy, ABP Ananda Kolkata Khaibaar Pass 2.0 is poised to unite the finest restaurants, food joints, and culinary artisans, providing an unparalleled platform for both established and emerging talents. Attendees can anticipate a vibrant showcase of signature dishes, blending time-honoured classics with contemporary innovations that define the rich tapestry of Bengali cuisine.
As the leading news channel in the region, ABP Ananda extends its cultural outreach beyond the newsroom to curate an immersive experience celebrating the very essence of Bengal’s culinary traditions. The commitment to fostering community bonds and showcasing the essence of Bengal’s tradition continues with part two of ABP Ananda Khaibaar Pass. The event serves as a platform for emerging talent and a melting pot of flavours, inviting everyone to partake in the richness of Bengali cuisine.
The presenting sponsors for this year’s edition are Jaya Biscuits, Rungta Steel TMT Bar, Suman Organic Guro Moshla, Wild Stone Code Pyro. It is co-oowered by Dear Government Lotteries and is partnered by Saha Textile and Bhooter Raja Dilo Bor. ABP Live is the digital partner while the print partner is t2.
ABP Ananda remains dedicated to its role beyond being a news channel, embodying its commitment to Bengal’s cultural tapestry through events like Khaibaar Pass. By curating this gastronomic extravaganza, ABP Ananda continues to nurture the spirit of togetherness, showcasing the very essence of Bengal’s traditions.
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.
