News Broadcasting
ET Now doubles the drama with South Central and Ayesha Faridi’s Interview
MUMBAI: Lights, camera, South India! ET Now, India’s leading English business news channel, is spicing up its programming lineup with two brand-new offerings South Central and The Interview with Ayesha Faridi. Both promise to add depth, drama, and dialogue to the channel’s already formidable portfolio.
First up is South Central, a weekday special airing from 29th September 2025, 5:30 pm–6:00 pm, helmed by ET Now’s Jude Sujendran. More than just a show, it’s a journey into the beating heart of South India, a region that’s equal parts economic powerhouse and cultural trendsetter. From boardroom battles in Bengaluru to cinematic splendour in Chennai, the show will explore everything from politics and policy to food and lifestyle. Its editorial pillars business & economy, politics & policy, cinema & culture, and food & lifestyle ensure that viewers get the full southern thali, not just a side dish.
Then comes The Interview with Ayesha Faridi, premiering on 3rd October 2025 at 3:30 pm. Executive editor Ayesha Faridi will trade soundbites for substance in a 25-minute deep dive with marquee voices from business, markets, policy, sports, and culture. Expect candid revelations, untold stories, and insights into future strategies from leaders shaping the country’s direction. Designed to rise above the clutter of breaking news, this flagship weekly show aims to bring clarity and context to India’s biggest decisions.
“Both the shows embody our vision of combining sharp analysis with engaging narratives, offering viewers unmatched perspectives on the people and forces shaping India’s economy, politics, and culture,” Times Network said in a statement.
For ET Now, already home to marquee programmes like The Market, First Trades and Closing Trades, the new additions reinforce its ethos of Rise with India, with coverage spanning 16 countries.
So whether it’s the spice of southern stories or the candour of conversations, ET Now’s festive programming treat promises something fresh for every viewer.
Tune in to South Central every weekday at 5:30 pm, and The Interview with Ayesha Faridi every Friday at 3:30 PM, only on ET Now.
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: 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.
