News Broadcasting
Barc Wk 39 – Wk 42: News18 India maintains pole position in news genre
Mumbai: News18 India has strengthened its leadership in the field. According to the most current Barc data for Wk 39 to 42, Aaj Tak, which has slipped to the fourth spot in the viewership statistics, is 29 per cent behind the channel.
According to Barc data (market share per cent 24 hrs TG:15+, India, Wk 39-42’22, All Day), News18 India accounts for 15.9 per cent, followed by TV9 Bharatvarsh at 13.6 per cent, India TV and Aaj Tak both accounting for 12.3 per cent each.
According to Barc data (market share per cent, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., TG:15+ HSM, Wk 39-42, All days), News18 India maintained its dominant position in the highly sought-after prime time slot, capturing a staggering 16.5 per cent market share. TV9 Bharatvarsh managed 14.8 per cent of the market, while India TV, Republic Bharat, and Aaj Tak each maintained a 12.3 per cent share.
The most prestigious time slot in the national Hindi news genre, between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., has also been maintained by News18 India, where Kishore Ajwani’s show tops Rajat Sharma’s show on India TV and Sudhir Chaudhary’s show on Aaj Tak.
While News18 India dominated the news segment with 18.7 per cent market share, India TV managed 16.2 per cent, followed by Republic Bharat with 15 per cent and Aaj Tak with 13.6 per cent, respectively, as per Barc data (market share per cent, 2100-2200 hrs, TG:15+ HSM, week 39-42’22, Mon-Fri).
According to the weekly report, News18 India has been outperforming the top general entertainment channels (GEC) in terms of reach.
The channel claims that News18 brands have been gaining strong traction even online, with their views rising rapidly across YouTube and other social media platforms.
To stay well ahead of the competition and maintain its distinctively tailored content for the audience, News18 has made significant investments in technology and editorial resources.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
