News Broadcasting
Advertisers and business decision makers influenced most by internet: New study
Arlington US: A new study shows that business decision makers are more heavily influenced by advertising on the Web than advertising on any other top medium. The study, which was jointly conducted by washingtonpost.com, Nielsen//NetRatings @plan and MORI Research, also found that increased usage of the Web by decision makers is leading directly to their decreased usage of leading traditional media.
The survey of 999 people on washingtonpost.com makes it increasingly clear that the Web has begun to eclipse other media in its appeal and influence, particularly among critical audiences. Among the key findings in the survey were:
1. 60 per cent of business decision makers surveyed said that the Web is the best way for advertisers to reach them, outpacing all other mediums surveyed. Less than 40 per cent recommended using television or radio.
2. Nearly 50 per cent say the Web has influenced them to make a purchase or obtain a service for their business, while only 35 percent chose the next closest medium. An overwhelming 77 percent of business decision makers said that the Web is the place where they prefer to find out about new products and companies, and nearly half said that the Web has actually influenced them to make a purchase or obtain a service for their business.
3. 17 per cent use the Web at least five hours per weekday (excluding e- mail).
4. More web equals less TV: 50 per cent of those that have increased their Web usage in the last year said they have decreased their television viewing as a result.
5. News is noteworthy: 90 per cent said that they use the Web to read general news.
The survey is one of the first to look at how the powerful business decision maker audience views and uses digital media. Nearly half of those surveyed said the Web influenced their business purchases, outranking traditional offline media outlets. A driving force behind this appeal is the internet’s ability to act as an immediate research tool for product and service information.
Through strategic partnerships between NetRatings, Nielsen Media Research and ACNielsen, the Nielsen//NetRatings services include worldwide Internet audience measurement, AdRelevance tracking of online advertising creatives, impressions and expenditures, and the @plan Internet user lifestyle, demographic, and product brand preferences measurement. Nielsen//NetRatings uses patented technology capable of measuring both Internet use and advertising to provide the most timely, accurate and comprehensive information in the global marketplace.
US based MORI Research claims to be a leader in media research and consulting with more than 20 years of experience working with newspapers, broadcasters, magazines and Web sites. MORI tracks readership and advertising trends, reach and frequency measurement, demographic profiles, audience segmentation and organizational return on investment. washingtonpost.com is an award-winning news, information and entertainment resource.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
