News Broadcasting
Capital shame: ‘Star News’ reporters barely escape molestation , abduction bid
MUMBAI: Another page was added to the sordid reputation of the country’s capital as a city unsafe for women when two Star News journalists, returning home after work in a company vehicle, were chased and cornered by a car near Nizamuddin bridge inc last night.
Even though the car had a Star News sticker labeled prominently on it, its still failed to deter the car-borne assailants from attempting to abduct the two journalists at 11:20 pm.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Star News CEO Udya Shankar says, “It is an unfortunate incident, but it is an occupational hazard. If this untoward event could happen to journalists, it is a clear indication of what the plight of ordinary women is.”
The Star News reporters were returning home after work when a car started chasing them on the Nizamuddin bridge around midnight. It forced the company vehicle to stop after which a man got down with a rod and demanded that the women come out.
When they refused to comply, the assailant allegedly broke the window panes and tail lights of their car and started abusing the reporters, a statement issued by Star News said.
Meanwhile, the reporters made several calls to PCR, and other reporters to seek immediate help from the police as well as to the home ministry.”But, there was no immediate relief from either the PCR or from the ministry and the attitudes was callous and shocking,” an outraged Shankar says.
Before the cops could reach the place, colleagues from the Star News team reached the spot, he adds.
Even after reaching the police picket, no immediate help was extended. Only after a hue and cry was raised, the FIR (first information report) was finally lodged in Mayur Vihar police station at around 01:30 am, Shankar says.
When asked as to what could be the reason behind the attack, Uday avers, “It is not clear at this point whether it was just hoodlums who were chasing the two women or something to do with gagging the voice of Star News.”
A Press Trust of India report quotes deputy commissioner of police (East district) Madhup Tiwari as saying the assailants had been identified and would be arrested soon. They have been charged with molestation, restraint and attempt to kidnap, Tiwari said.
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.
