News Broadcasting
‘Hasratein’ director ventures into film direction
After making a name for himself directing serials like Hasratein and Justujoo, Ajai Sinha is now ready to go 70 mm.
His first Bollywood directorial venture is titled The Bachelor. Produced by Mahendra Dhariwal (of Maa Tujhe Salaam fame) and written by Raghuveer Shekhawat and Sinha himself , the film is a romantic comedy, he says. As the name suggests, it’s the story of three bachelors- two collegians and one professor.
“It’s a story of youthful notoriety, fun, mischief and disguise,” says Ajai. Is the movie inspired by the success of Style? “No, not really. None of my projects even on TV have been inspired by other people’s work. Like my serials, this movie will be unique in its content and treatment.”
Has his decision to enter the movie arena got to do with his disillusionment with the TV scenario? “Yes and no. It is true that producers today have very little say as far as pushing their own stories/concepts are concerned and have no option but to do what the channels want them to. But none of my decisions in life have been taken out of compulsion. I had this story with me for the last five years. It’s just that with the small- budget movie scene looking up now, it was relatively easier for me to get a producer.
“But does that mean quits as far as his TV projects go?
“No way. Justujoo will go on for some time. So, TV will continue to be my bread and butter.”
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.
