News Broadcasting
I&B minister urges media restraint on sensitive issues
NEW DELHI: The minister of information & broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad has called upon the media, both print and electronic, to exercise self-restraint while reporting on sensitive matters like riots, terrorist activities and security related issues.
There has to be a proper blend in the freedom of expression and the citizens right to choice Prasad said. Inaugurating the new premises for the Press Council of India (PCI) at Soochna Bhawan here today, Prasad said that the Press Council has suggested some more powers to ensure that it decisions are implemented. These are being looked into but a holistic view has to be taken and the government has to ensure that it is not seen as reflection a press freedom.
He said that the government had no intention to exercise any control on press freedom. In this connection, he also said that the representation on PCI also has to be considered so that the oligarchy is not allowed and the representation is on a wide basis. This would give greater moral authority and respect to the Council.
The minister also pointed out to the debate on whether the newspapers should be treated as a commodity or institution. Should the editorials and the news items be sponsored or not? All these questions have to be addressed by the mediapersons to retain the credibility of the newspapers, he said.
Prasad said that the newspapers still have great reach and relevance despite the onslaught of the TV channels. India has about 50,000 newspapers published in 82 languages with a sixty million circulation of daily newspapers with a growth rate of five per cent.
The chairman of Press Council of India Justice Jayachandra Reddy called upon the newspapers to uphold the high traditions to emulate the great role they played during the freedom struggle. He also called for some sort of regulation for the electronic media, which at present is not bound by any norms, he said. The minister also launched the website of the Press Council on the occasion.
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.
