News Broadcasting
Barc Wk5 : CNBC TV18 leads during the Union Budget speech
Mumbai: CNBC TV18, has continued its dominance with a whopping 88.2 per cent market share during the Union Budget 2023 speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
As per the latest data released by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), CNBC TV18 captured the maximum market share at 88.2 per cent, leaving ET Now far behind at 11.8 per cent. (BARC; market share% 1100 1230 hrs, TG: 22 AB M+, 10L+, Wk 05’23, Budget Speech)
The channel also remained on top throughout the budget day (1 February 2023). CNBC TV18 captured over one third of market share and recorded a robust lead against competition.
With the aim of providing viewers a thorough understanding of the Union Budget 2023-24, CNBC TV18 presented its special programming line-up on the Budget Day.
CNBC TV18 featured a line up of renowned experts from business, finance and markets to decode the Budget. Industry titans such as Sanjiv Mehta (HUL), Sanjiv Puri (ITC), Sanjiv Bajaj (Bajaj Finserv), Anish Shah (Mahindra Group), along with market veterans such as Ramesh Damani, Madhu Kela, S Naren, Shankar Sharma, Prashant Khemka, Sunil Singhania, etc. Industry heavyweights such as Tarun Bajaj (Former Revenue Secretary), Sajjid Chinoy (JP Morgan India), Raamdeo Agrawal (Motilal Oswal Financial Services), Dinesh Kanabar (Dhruva Advisors) and Ashok Wadhwa (Ambit) were among the CNBC TV18 Budget special guest editors, who brought in their expert analysis to the table this year.
CNBC TV18 has been the industry leader since the resumption of BARC’s viewership data in March of 2022 and has consistently been the most preferred source of English Business News in India.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
