News Broadcasting
Barrett to chair US media security and reliability council
MUMBAI: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Michael Powell has announced that David J. Barrett will assume the chairmanship of the newly re-chartered Media Security and Reliability Counci (MSRC). Barrett is the president and CEO of Hearst-Argyle Television.
Powell was quoted in an official release saying, “The MSRC will continue to bring together industry leaders to develop ways to ensure the continued operation and security of media facilities. I am pleased that David will be bringing his expertise and leadership to this important council, and am confident that MSRC II will continue in the fine tradition set by this Council.”
The MSRC is a Federal advisory committee that reports to Powell. Powell formed the organisation following 9/11 in order to study, develop and report on best practices designed to assure the optimal reliability, robustness and security of the broadcast and multichannel video programming distribution industries.
Barrett said, “MSRC has completed just a portion of the important work that needs to be done to better prepare the electronic media for events that will drive us to an even higher level of community service, responsibility and accessibility. As we move forward into the next generation of this important committee, we hope to satisfy the expectation of the FCC, Homeland Security and other agencies and public officials who count on broadcasters to help make America safer and more secure.”
MSRC is being chartered for a two-year term beginning 24 March. MSRC II will further refine the MSRC best practices recommendations. The council will also coordinate with the FCC staff on an outreach process that will encourage adoption of MSRC’s best practices and foster coordination between media and government at the local level.
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.
