News Broadcasting
BBC radio icon John Peel passes away
MUMBAI: One of the giants of British radio BBC disc jockey John Peel, whose nightly Radio One programme is credited with launching the careers of British bands including New Order and Joy Division passed away from al heart attack.
He was 65 years old..Peel is credited with nurturing musicians and introducing listeners to new sounds.
Radio One controller Andy Parfitt said: “John Peel was a broadcasting legend. I am deeply saddened by his death as are all who work at Radio 1. Hopeful bands all over the world would send their demo tapes to John knowing that he really cared. His commitment and passion for new music only grew stronger over the years.
“John’s influence has towered over the development of popular music for nearly four decades and his contribution to modern music and music culture is immeasurable..
BBC DG Mark Thompson said, “He was one of the giants of radio and will be missed, not just by everyone at the BBC, but by millions of listeners of all ages.” Peel also presented a weekly BBC World Service music programme.
Meanwhile Kershaw, a DJ on BBC Radio 3, was quoted in a report saying that Peel’s schedule at Radio 1 had been affecting his health. Kershaw wrote an article in The Independent saying that the last time he saw Peel, he looked absolutely worn out. Peel had informed him that his Radio 1 slot had been moved and that the combination of that and Home Truths (his Radio 4 show) was taking a toll. Kershaw added that Peel felt he had been marginalised.
Peel broadcast on Radio 1 three times a week in the 10 pm-midnight timeslot until July. He was moved to the 11pm -1am slot
BBC World Service director Nigel Chapman said, ” He was a very popular, pioneering presenter who broadened the horizons of generations of global listeners. He was a tireless enthusiast for new music in all its forms and his passion and warmth touched the lives of millions around the world. A great advocate of the World Service, he played a key role in our recent 70th Anniversary celebrations. His innovative and iconic style will be greatly missed.”
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:Â 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.
