News Broadcasting
ET Now launches on 22 June
MUMBAI: ET Now, the English business news channel from Times Global Broadcasting Pvt ltd (TGBPL), will officially launch on 22 June.
The channel, which witnessed soft launch on 17 June, has already signed up with major multi-system operators (MSOs) for distribution on their cable networks.
TGBPL CEO Chintamani Rao confirmed the news to Indiantelevision.com and said that the distribution is in place. However, he refused to divulge more details ahead of the launch.
ET Now will be pumping in Rs 400-500 million as carriage fee, according to multiple sources in the cable industry. The channel has signed up with MSOs such as Hathway Cable & Datacom, Incablenet and Den.
“In networks where Times Now is negotiating for renewals, ET Now is yet to sign carriage deals. In Mumbai and Delhi, ET Now is looking for a place close to rival channel CNBC-TV18,” the CEO of a leading MSO told Indiantelevision.com.
Another industry source said that ET Now would be spending for carriage on DTH unlike most of the other news channels who had launched earlier. “Leading DTH operators Tata Sky and Dish TV are asking for carriage,” he added.
Indiantelevision.com had reported first that ET Now would be launching in the June quarter.
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.
