News Broadcasting
Discovery special showcases communal harmony in Punjab
MUMBAI: This should provide a welcome break to those fed up with watching the likes of Tagodia creating trouble between communities.
A Discovery India special examines a small town in east Punjab, Malerkotla, where Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs have lived in harmony for over five centuries.
The one hour special A Legend Of Malerkotla: A Tale from the Punjab airs on 17 January at 9 pm in the Discover India slot with a repeat on 18 January at 9 am and on 22 January at 12 Noon. After India achieved independence in 1947 Punjab was the worst hit by this ethnic frenzy. In this mayhem, there was only one island of peace in Punjab, and that was the tiny Muslim ruled principality of Malerkotla.
The special has been made by filmmakers, Iqbal and Anu Malhotra and features interviews with some of the residents who reminisce about the days following 15 August 1947. Violence was visible across the border but never percolated to Malerkotla. The special captures their stories, interspersed with recreated enactments of the scenes of violence in Punjab,says a channel press release.
Discovery India marketing director Aditya P Tripathi said, “In response to the growing popularity of the Discover India series, the Discovery Channel presents a new season of interesting programmes that depict the country’s multiple facets. A Legend Of Malerkotla will appeal to all secular Indians, especially to viewers in Punjab and Haryana. In the coming months, we plan to bring in more such programmes for the Discover India series.”
Legend has it that for centuries, the town has been peaceful because of the special boon bestowed upon it by Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the Sikh Gurus. Others feel that it is simply the presence of the shrine of Baba Sadruddin, popularly known as Baba Haidar Sheikh, the Sufi saint, who founded the town of Malerkotla more than 500 years ago. Never in the town’s history has communal dissent disturbed the prevailing peace.
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.
