News Broadcasting
CNN documentary marks anniversary of Iraq war
MUMBAI: One year after the US invaded Iraq searching for weapons of mass destruction, CNN has announced a documentary on the subject. CNN correspondent Nic Robertson returns to take the pulse of a nation still coming to terms with life without Saddam Hussein.
His documentary is titled Hope and Fear: Journeys in the New Iraq and forms a focal part of a week of coverage on CNN International marking the first anniversary of the Iraq war.
The show airs on 27 March at 6:30 pm with repeats on 28 March at 10:30 am and on 31 March at 6:30 pm.
Robertson looks at the daily lives of six individuals who face the traumas and successes of life in post-war Iraq. The group includes an American soldier, a Baghdad police officer, a Shiite widow, a Shiite cleric and a Kurdish entrepreneur. CNNs anniversary coverage also includes on-the-ground reports from CNN correspondents Walter Rodgers and Jane Arraf on the challenges and successes of building a new Iraq.
On 30 June, the US plans to return sovereignty to the Iraqis. This documentary thus comes at a critical threshold in that country’s history. In the documentary through the eyes of the six characters, Robertson perceives much anger among Iraqis since liberation has given way to occupation. Many are also apprehensive that persistent violence and the arrival of international terrorism in Iraq will kill any prospect of stability.
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.
