News Broadcasting
CNN doc examines the plight of illegal immigrants
MUMBAI: News channel CNN will air the documentary Living With Illegals on 5 August at 11:30 am, 7:30 pm, 6 August at 11:30 am and on 8 August at 7:30 pm.
In this documentary, award-winning journalist Sorious Samura spends a month living the life of an illegal immigrant, travelling over 1000 miles in the process and experiencing the same gruelling hardship as his undocumented companions. His journey is epic as he travels from Morocco through Spain and France, finally making it across the English Channel to Britain.
Samura begins in Northern Morocco, where hundreds of illegal immigrants live in forests waiting for their chance to break into the enclave of Ceuta, a Spanish enclave at the very tip of Africa. For them, Europe means work – as one says, “I am ready to do any kind of job. If I have to I’ll wash the toilets, bathrooms or train stations I’ll be very happy. Forget I am a graduate.”
All that separates these people from Ceuta and Europe is an 8km long, 6m high fence, around which they camp. Huddled together in cold, flimsy tents and hounded by daily police raids, the immigrants struggle to survive with no food, money or peace of mind. Yet, their dedication to reach the promised land is unyielding.
Samura meets Gus and Theo, two immigrants who have decided to swim around the fence and thus into Europe, an extremely dangerous method of entry which many have paid for with their lives. The next day, news arrives that only one made it to the other side. Samura leaves the Moroccan forest for Ceuta and soon discovers a derelict factory known as the ‘Longhouse’ where those on the run from immigration authorities live. The conditions are horrifying. For these people, the dream of Europe has already turned into a nightmare.
Samura travels through several cities in mainland Spain, where he begs, sleeps rough, performs odd jobs and learns inside tricks to survive as an immigrant. He encounters Thommy, a stranger of amazing generosity who helps him raise money to continue his journey. He also meets people who try to con him out of his earnings. The world of the newly arrived immigrant, Samura soon learns, has at least as many pitfalls as opportunities.
Through a “connection man”, Samura crosses the Spanish / French border and moves onwards by train to Calais, the hub for immigrants trying to enter the UK. Samura is surprised to find living conditions and scenes of desperation as bad as those in Morocco. Arick, a Sudanese immigrant, explains, “Every second, every minute I am trying to get to England. At least in London they treat you like a human being”. That night, Samura and Arick break into a lorry heading for the UK. Once inside they must stay completely still, but after an hour of waiting they are caught and arrested.
In the end, through circumstances, both Sorious and Arick do reach their final destination. It has been an incredible journey, but was all the suffering really worth it?
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.
