Bihar votes, viewers float to CNN News18 as channel wins the ratings race

MUMBAI: When Bihar counted its ballots, India counted on one channel. As results rolled in on 14 November, CNN-News18 didn’t just cover the political drama, it became the story, sweeping the English news ratings with a margin that left rivals playing catch-up all day.

According to BARC India’s week 45 data, CNN-News18 clinched a commanding 41.9 per cent market share on result day, almost doubling the reach of its two closest competitors, NDTV 24×7 at 23.7 per cent and Times Now at 23.6 per cent.
(Source: BARC India | Mkt: India | TG: 2+ | Period: Wk 45’25 Market Share per cent 14 Nov (24hrs) | 8 channels considered).

But the real landslide came during the high-stakes counting window. Between 08:00 and 12:00, when Bihar’s political fate was being sealed, viewers chose their mandate with even greater clarity:
CNN-News18 surged to a massive 53 per cent share, dwarfing NDTV 24×7 at 18.6 per cent and Times Now at 15.1 per cent.
(Source: BARC India | Mkt: India | TG: 2+ | Period: Wk 45’25 Market Share per cent 14 Nov (08:00–12:00) | 8 channels considered)

For a state known for its nail-biting elections, audiences sought speed, accuracy and on-ground authority and overwhelmingly tuned into the channel they believed delivered all three. From reporters stationed across Bihar’s hotspots to a line-up of political heavyweights decoding every twist, CNN-News18 turned result day into a masterclass in live news.

The numbers underline a deeper truth: in moments when the nation leans in, trust becomes the ballot. And CNN-News18 has been stacking up those votes for a while. For over three consecutive years, the channel has held its position as India’s No. 1 English news network, powered by sharp analysis, fast fact-checking, and prime-time anchors such as Zakka Jacob, Anand Narasimhan, Rahul Shivshankar, and Shivani Gupta, names that have become shorthand for credible reportage.

As Bihar watched its political script unfold, viewers cast their silent mandate for the channel they believed would sift clarity from chaos. And on a day when numbers mattered, CNN-News18’s lead wasn’t just decisive, it was definitive.