News Broadcasting
BARC Report: Aaj Tak becomes Most Watched News Channel
Mumbai: BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) is a broadcast research agency, responsible for assessing and disseminating television viewership data. The recently concluded state assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Mizoram have instilled fresh aspirations among news broadcasters. Notably, during election coverage, a significant portion of mainstream news channels garnered distinct audience attention. Against this electoral backdrop, Aaj Tak Hindi news channel has emerged as the top-ranking news channel in terms of viewership, according to BARC data.
Based on three categories for BARC rating points,
Source: BARC | HSM | 15+ | 03rd December 2023| 07:00 to 12:00 Hrs | Gross AMA’000s
During the key vote-counting hours in 4 states, BARC highlighted the dominance of ‘Aaj Tak’ among news channels. On December 3, 2023, Aaj Tak news channel achieved the highest viewership and claimed the title of the Most Watched news channel. Aaj Tak secured a significant market share of 16.2%, surpassing competitors such as India TV with a 13.9% share and TV9 Bharatvarsh with a 12.5% share.
During Counting Day –
Source: BARC | HSM | 15+ | 3rd December, 2023 | 07:00 to 24:00 Hrs | Gross AMA’000s
On the election counting day, spanning from early morning until midnight on December 3, 2023, BARC data reaffirmed Aaj Take leading position with a 15% market share. Following closely were TV9 Bharatvarsh with 13.7% and India TV with a 12.2% market share.
During counting week –
Source: BARC | HSM | 15+ | Wk 49’23 | 24 Hours | Gross AMA’000s
Throughout the entire counting week (Week 49, 2023), Aaj Tak channel showcased its dominance with a 13.0% market share, closely trailed by TV9 Bharatvarsh and News18 India, each securing a 12.9% share. Week 49 began on the heels of the highly awaited results announcement for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. Aaj Tak capitalised on this surge in national interest, maintaining its top spot throughout the week. This was particularly evident during the crucial days of Exit Poll announcements (November 30) and actual results (December 3).
News Broadcasting
Times Network to air JVC Exit Poll across 5 regions on April 29
Four-hour broadcast spans states and Puducherry with data-led analysis
MUMBAI: Times Network is set to roll out what it calls one of its most expansive election programming efforts yet, culminating in the JVC Exit Poll on 29 April, with a multi-hour broadcast spanning key poll-bound regions.
The exit poll will air across Times Now and Times Now Navbharat, beginning at 5pm and 4pm respectively. Co-powered by Vedanta and Jindal Stainless, the programming aims to combine on-ground reportage with data-driven projections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
The network has deployed over 50 journalists across these regions, gathering voter sentiment and local insights in the run-up to polling. The effort builds on its ongoing election formats such as Election Yatra and Election Premier League, which have tracked campaign narratives and community-level issues.
In parallel, Times Now Navbharat has focused on constituency-level reporting in West Bengal through its Jan Gan ka Mann series, capturing voter opinions across diverse segments.
The coverage has also featured interviews with prominent political leaders. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala and V D Satheesan have appeared on the network’s election specials. From Tamil Nadu, voices including deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, BJP leader K Annamalai and NTK’s Seeman have also featured in discussions.
On the day of the exit poll, the network’s primetime anchors, including Navika Kumar, Zakka Jacob and Sumit Awasthi, will lead the coverage. They will be joined by a panel of political analysts, psephologists and senior journalists offering real-time insights and interpretation of trends.
The programming will integrate grassroots reportage with analytics from the JVC Exit Poll, aiming to give viewers an early sense of electoral outcomes ahead of the official results on 4 May.
With its combined English and Hindi broadcast reach, Times Network is positioning this effort as a comprehensive look at voter sentiment, blending field reporting, data and debate to decode what could lie ahead when the final mandate is revealed.
