News Broadcasting
Chhota VJ wannabes ready, steady and raring to go
MUMBAI: Young at heart, innocent, curious. These are just a few of the qualities found in the kids that Nickelodeon has shorlisted as finalists for its Chota VJ Hunt. The channel shortlisted 14 finalists after six weeks and sifting through a staggering 4,300 entries.
Listening to them speak about themselves certainly whets the appetite about seeing them on the tube. Take seven-year-old Aman Singh. The young ‘un certainly has an insatiable curiosity about the world around him. “I have been called Mr Question Book since age four as I constantly ask what, why questions.” Query him about programming choices and pat comes the reply,” My favourite show is Khulja Sim Sim on Star Plus. I do not watch Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon. My sister tunes in to them.” The icing on the cake is this: “I came to know about the Chota VJ Hunt by accident while visiting my friend’s home. He and his group were planning to register. I then had to force my mother into giving me permission. I was unprepared and so I just told a joke and sang a song. Next thing I know I got chosen.”
Like Singh, 12-and-a-half-year-old Kavita Arjungi did not hear about the hunt from the tube. She says: ” I had tried for the Children’s Day Special but was rejected. My sister was chosen. Then my mother’s friend said that this was another opportunity I could try for. I have been learning dancing from Shiamak Davar’s for the past two years. I like to choreograph not just Hindi film songs but also songs that are fast and hummable.”
Asked about whether kids’ programming could be improved, she said: “There is too much dubbed Hindi programming on Cartoon Network. They should be more English in flavour so that I can follow the goings on more easily. I do not get too much time to sit in front of the telly but when I do I enjoy watching Rugrats on Nickelodeon as I find babies cute and adorable. If I was chosen it would mean the world to me as I was extremely disappointed last time around.”
Another finalist Miel Yusuf liked Nickelodeon as it was nice and friendly. She draws cartoons for fun and her favourite character is Ginger. The girl has been playing tennis since age five. She says that she would enjoy the channel more if there was a programme schedule easily available.
Currently, the VJs can be seen in a two minute promo on the channel giving a quick introduction of themselves. The winner will be declared later this month.
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.
