News Broadcasting
India Today Group breaks language barriers with PM’s interview in six languages
Mumbai: India Today Group pioneered the concept of an AI Anchor Sana, creating a revolution in the media industry. Sana’s lifelike presence captivated audiences. Taking the next big step in utilising AI for news, the India Today Group has utilised AI to translate PM Narendra Modi’s interview to the network into six diverse languages – Marathi, Punjabi, Bangla, Bhojpuri, English and Odia, instantly breaking multiple languages barriers and ensuring access across regional audiences. This groundbreaking move showcased AI’s potential in democratising information and bridging linguistic barriers, solidifying the group’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity.
The AI step comes in a week when the PM gave three separate interviews to the network — not seen so far in his tenure, and a major affirmation to the country’s only democratic newsroom.
The interview hashtag #SabseSolidModiInterview surged to the top spot on X’s (Formerly Twitter) trending list, reflecting widespread interest and discussion surrounding the PM’s interaction (Source: X| Trending Hashtags| Political– Trending| #SabseSolidModiInterview). The interview attracted a staggering 1.16 lakh peak concurrent viewers on YouTube Live, underscoring the immense viewership it commanded during the broadcast on May 16th, 2024 (Source: YT Live | All Feeds | 16 May’24 | 7 PM to 8.40 PM).
The PM’s interview’s reach extended beyond real-time viewership, generating over 1 million actions on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter from 16th May to 19th May (Source: Comscore Social). The hashtags #SabseSolidPMInterview and #SabseSolidModiInterview was pivotal in this engagement. Additionally, the interview accumulated more than 30 million video views and reel plays across YouTube, Facebook, X, and Instagram within the same period, showcasing its extensive impact and popularity (Source: Comscore Social and Instagram). Additionally, translated interviews broke records and got an immense interaction with the regional audience, interviews were shared by official party channels and many prominent political leaders. These impressive statistics underscore the interview’s far-reaching impact and its ability to connect with viewers on a massive scale.
In an exclusive interview with a distinguished panel of star network anchors and editors Rahul Kanwal, Sudhir Chaudhary, Sweta Singh, and Anjana Om Kashyap, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his profound readiness to lead the country for another term, then went on the answer every big question that’s been on the national mind.
The Prime Minister shed light on his perspectives regarding the absence of a global news channel originating from India. He remarked, “If more global TV channels like AajTak are created, I would be the first one to applaud. It’s surprising that even after 75 years of independence, not one global news channel from our country has emerged.”
Making a special mention of the India Today group, the Prime Minister said, “I expect that AajTak and its editors can study and showcase the real extent of elections.” The group is known for its in-depth interviews with senior politicians, celebrities, and influential figures. The Group’s celebrated channels, India Today TV and AajTak, dominate the Indian elections news coverage with robust analysis by experts, pre and post-elections.
As the elections draw to a close, the PM revealed his favourite moment in the current cycle — record voting in the Kashmir Valley, a trend he sees as springing from the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
In a political season where the PM has given an array of interviews, the India Today Group’s interaction stands out, as not only the most discussed and shared interview but also, with the potential to reach out to the largest audience.
News Broadcasting
Zee Business corners 74.2 per cent market share on Budget Day, BARC data shows
Channel extends lead as investors tune in for policy decoding and markets
MUMBAI: Zee Business tightened its grip on India’s business news audience on Union Budget Day, commanding a 74.2 per cent market share during peak coverage hours, according to data from Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).
The numbers, tracked between 0800 and 1000 hrs in north India among NCCS ABC males aged 22 and above, underscore the channel’s dominance as investors and traders tuned in for real-time policy decoding and market reaction. The share was calculated across two business news channels.
Industry executives say the spike mirrors an earnings-call-style verdict from viewers: speed, clarity and conviction won the day. Zee Business has retained its leadership beyond Budget Day, topping the charts on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, signalling sustained audience loyalty rather than a one-off surge.
The ratings momentum carried into Budget Samvad 2026, the channel’s flagship post-Budget discussion, broadcast live from the Bombay Stock Exchange. The session was moderated by Zee Business managing editor Anil Singhvi, and featured market veteran Ramesh Damani, among other participants.
Viewers were drawn to wall-to-wall Budget analysis, sharp market calls and plain-English interpretation of policy measures: an approach that continues to differentiate the channel in a crowded news market.
“The 74.2 per cent share reflects viewer trust in timely and credible market insight,” Singhvi said, adding that the post-Budget forum was designed to move beyond headlines and unpack the implications for investors and the broader economy.
