News Broadcasting
CNN-IBN, IBN 7 launch Taare Zameen Par contest
MUMBAI: CNN-IBN, IBN 7, IBNLive.com and Buzz18.com have launched Taare Zameen Par contest to promote the Aamir Khan’s directorial debut.
The contest will hunt for seven special children, who will get a chance to perform for Aamir Khan. The contest will conclude with a special half-hour show on 20 December.
During the show, Aamir Khan will walk through a school, where the show is shot. He will talk about his own childhood days, favourite teachers and favourite moments as a student. In the school auditorium the seven chosen finalists will perform.
CNN-IBN and IBN 7 editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “Every child is unique in his/her own right. The idea behind the contest is to celebrate childhood and all the quirks that come with it. I am sure eager participation by parents wanting to showcase what makes their child special, will make this initiative a huge success. ”
Said IBN 7 managing editor Ashutosh, “While most contests for children invite entries from exceptionally intelligent or talented candidates, our Taare Zameen Par contest stands apart. This is because it celebrates each child for his/her special ability, no matter how banal or unusual. In addition, the opportunity to meet a mega star like Aamir Khan will add to the attraction of the initiative. “
News Broadcasting
News TV viewership jumps 33 per cent as West Asia war draws audiences
BARC Week 8 data shows news share rising to 8 per cent despite T20 World Cup
NEW DELHI:Â Even as individual television news channel ratings remain under a temporary pause, the genre itself is seeing a clear surge in audience attention.
According to the latest data from Broadcast Audience Research Council India, television news recorded a 33 per cent jump in genre share in Week 8 of 2026, covering February 28 to March 6.
The news genre accounted for 8 per cent of total television viewership during the week, up from 6 per cent the previous week. The spike in attention coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have kept global headlines firmly fixed on West Asia.
The rise is notable because it came at a time when cricket was dominating television screens. The high-stakes stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the Super 8 fixtures and semi-finals, were being broadcast during the same period.
Despite the cricket frenzy, viewers appeared to be toggling between sport and global affairs, boosting the overall share of news programming.
The surge in genre share comes even as the government has enforced a one-month pause on publishing ratings for individual news channels. The move followed regulatory scrutiny of the television ratings ecosystem.
While channel-level rankings remain temporarily out of sight, the genre-level data suggests that when global tensions escalate, audiences continue to turn to television news for real-time updates.
