News Broadcasting
FCC to review rules for telcos obtaining cable TV franchises
MUMBAI: US media regulatory body The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will on Wednesday vote on whether to make it easier for telecom firms like Verizon and other parties to obtain cable franchises
Media reports quote FCC Chairman Kevin Martin saying that local franchise authorities at times obstruct and in some cases completely derail new attempts to bring video competition to an area.
The measure, which will not be made public by the agency until after the vote, has alarmed local franchising authorities, which contend action by the agency may wind up hurting consumers.
New subscription television providers like the telephone firms reports state must apply with thousands of American cities and towns for permission to offer the service and they have complained that the process could take years.
The FCC will vote on a plan to limit local authorities to 90 days for reviewing most applications and restrict demands that providers offer unrelated services to cities such as installing playgrounds and streetlamps.
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.
