News Broadcasting
BBC World Service Trust releases music album on AIDS awareness
MUMBAI: BBC World Service Trust, National AIDS Control Organisation (Naco) and national network Doordarshan have joined hands to spread awareness about AIDS through a music album Haath Se Haath Milaa (HSHM) or let’s join hands.
The music video and album, released yesterday, is also being supported by multiplex major PVR Cinemas, which will screen it in all its 68 screens across India.
Though the association of PVR Cinemas with BBC World Service Trust is only for three months, the multiplex company CEO (digital) Sunil Patil is optimistic to maintain the relationship for a longer period of time.
According to the director of the video Anu Malhotra, “All the stars have generously contributed to the cause by filming for this video completely pro bono.”
The album, produced by Music Today and consisting of eight soundtracks, will be available in music stores and sold commercially across the country.
In an official statement, all profits from sales will be donated to non-governmental organization Salaam Baalak Trust and Committed Communities Development Trust (CCDT).
BBC World Service Trust director general Andrew Whitehead said, “The selections of songs were done from the Music Today catalogue.”
The launch ceremony was graced by Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty who said that the video would appeal to all and help combating AIDS and the stigma attached to it.
BBC World Service Trust supports a reality television series on DD, titled Jasoos Vijay where the central theme revolves around spreading awareness about AIDS.
The third series of Jasoos Vijay will finish its run by end September and HSHM will end by February 2007.
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.
