News Broadcasting
Bappa Majha brings Maharashtra together for Ganeshotsav on ABP Majha
MUMBAI: When Bappa arrives, even differences take a holiday. This Ganesh Chaturthi, ABP Majha is once again turning television screens into pandals with its flagship festive programming Bappa Majha, celebrating Maharashtra’s favourite season of devotion, spectacle, and unity.
Carrying the theme “Bappa Ale, Bhed Nimale” (As Bappa arrives, differences disappear), Bappa Majha is more than just programming, it’s a 10-day cultural immersion. From the grandeur of Mumbai’s iconic pandals to the intimacy of household traditions, the channel promises to capture every beat of Ganeshotsav.
The line-up is as elaborate as a traditional sadhya:
. Live Aartis from Maharashtra’s most renowned temples and pandals at 6:30 am and 6:30 pm daily ( 27 Aug – 5 Sept).
. Ganesh Pujan at ABP Majha’s office on Aug 27 at 9:30 am, giving viewers a peek into the channel’s own festive rituals.
. Kaladhipati at 2:30 pm, where celebrities bring personal stories of devotion and celebration.
. Daily festival bulletins, Bappa Majha, at 5:30 pm (repeat at 11:30 am), offering updates and stories from every corner of Maharashtra.
. Maha Ganesh Mandal Contest (7 – 16 Sept), spotlighting the three most spectacular pandals from each of the state’s eight regions.
. Anant Chaturdashi Special (Sept 6 from 7 am onwards), capturing the emotional farewell as Bappa is immersed with pomp and tears.
With Ganeshotsav being Maharashtra’s most widely celebrated festival, the numbers tell their own story: over 10 days of immersive coverage, across 8 regions, spotlighting thousands of pandals and lakhs of devotees, all brought home by ABP Majha.
ABP Majha’s Bappa Majha is co-presented by Gowardhan, Punit Balan group and Nirma Advance; powered by Hint, Royal Enfield and Kayam Churna; with Mahindra Tractor and Porter as supporting partners, and ABP Live as digital partner.
In a state where Ganeshotsav is less a festival and more a way of life, ABP Majha has once again positioned itself as not just a broadcaster, but a cultural companion telling the stories, sharing the chants, and ensuring that when Maharashtra says “Ganpati Bappa Morya”, the whole state says it together.
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.
