News Broadcasting
Chandra’s global news channel not before end 2006
NEW DELHI: Zee Telefilms, which had proposed a global news channel presenting the Asian viewpoint to the world, is holding talks with other countries in the region for partnerships.
Replying to a query posed by Indiantelevision.com on the news channel, which had been announced by him earlier this year at Ficci-Frames 2005, Chandra today said, “We are holding talks with countries like Pakistan, Singapore and China (to be part of the venture).”
According to Chandra, “The proposed global news channel with an Asian perspective is likely to become a reality only by end 2006. But work is on.”
Asked where the global news channel would be based, he informed that no decision has been taken yet. Still, he did not rule out Dubai as being one of the candidates for the headquarters.
Zee’s international operations are based out of Dubai’s Media City, which is fast emerging the home for many media companies. Even international cricket’s apex body, ICC, shifted its home from London to Dubai this year.
The shareholding pattern in the global news venture, too, is undecided as that can be done when the partner countries are finalized.
Speaking at Ficci-Frames, Chandra had said that on the lines of CNN and BBC, which highlight American and British/European viewpoints in the global context, Asia should also have a news channel of its own.
He had then said that Zee Telefilms was taking the lead in launching such a global news channel.
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.
