News Broadcasting
Bangalore to get Fashion TV Cafe, lounges & merchandise
MUMBAI : French channel Fashion TV is in expansion overdrive.
The channel, that has hit headlines in India oftener for criticism of its content by the I&B ministry, has outlined an expansion strategy that will incorporate businesses, revolving around lifestyle, into its portfolio of offerings. The initiatives include the F Bar & Lounge; f cafe and salon; merchandise and accessories; publishing; music and multimedia products.
The first F Bar & Lounge will launch in Bangalore this month and will be followed by similar offerings in a phased national rollout plan, says Fashion TV India business head Ram Mirchandani. The F Bar & Lounge, like its counterparts in Warsaw, Buenos Aires and Budapest, will bring to life ‘international panache’ as seen on Fashion TV, and will host fashion-based events and features, international talent including DJ’s, fashion designers, and models. Mirchandani says it would represent a hip lounge for the fashion conscious segment.
FTV India has commenced exhibiting Indian talent covering signature shows, featuring Indian designers, models, photographers in the Past few months.
The objective of the lounge is to give a complete 360 degree fashion experience, says Mirchandani. “We will also focus on broadcast of Indian content supported by a host of ground events and other off air activity, taking fashion well beyond the television screen” he adds.
Fashion TV India will help its franchise partners select premises for the lounge as well as design the interiors; source the merchandise and set up, right down to the executional details.
A franchise of Fashion TV Paris, Fashion TV India’s Indian programming currently includes more than 100 hours of exclusive India centric programs showcasing the latest in Indian fashion, designers, models and parties. Fashion TV India reaches around 22 million households around the country through CDN (Cable Distribution Network), a part of HMA Udyog, promoted by Lalit Modi’s Modi Entertainment Group.
News Broadcasting
Network18 channels lead YouTube news viewership in March 2026
CNN-News18, News18 India and CNBC channels top categories with record views
MUMBAI: When the world hit refresh on breaking news, Network18’s channels were already streaming ahead. As geopolitical tensions and war-driven headlines fuelled a surge in global news consumption, the network’s digital playbook delivered big clocking record Youtube viewership across English, Hindi and business news categories in March 2026.
At the forefront was CNN-News18, which emerged as the clear leader in the English news segment with 130 million live and video-on-demand views. The channel edged past competitors such as Times of India (126.5 million), Times Now (101.1 million), India Today (88.2 million) and NDTV (77.5 million), according to Databeings data for March.
In the Hindi news arena, News18 India delivered a commanding performance, racking up a staggering 3,297 million views on YouTube. The channel comfortably outpaced NDTV India, which recorded 3,119 million views, underlining its deep reach and consistent engagement with mass audiences, as per Playboard data.
The network’s dominance wasn’t confined to general news. In the Hindi business segment, CNBC Awaaz topped the charts with 92 million views, narrowly ahead of Zee Business (90 million) and well ahead of ET Now Swadesh (57 million). Meanwhile, its English counterpart CNBC-TV18 posted a strong 58 million views, reinforcing the network’s cross-category strength.
The spike in viewership reflects a broader shift in audience behaviour, with viewers increasingly turning to digital platforms particularly Youtube for real-time updates and in-depth coverage during high-intensity news cycles. For Network18, the numbers signal more than just scale; they underline the effectiveness of a multi-platform strategy that blends speed, credibility and continuous coverage.
In a month where the news never paused, it seems viewers chose to stay tuned where the stream never stopped.
