News Broadcasting
India Today Group launches Tak 360, India’s first FAST news channel
NOIDA: India Today Group has fired the starting gun on its connected TV ambitions with the launch of Tak 360, billed as India’s first FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) news channel, aimed squarely at an always-on, digital-first audience.
Built for large screens and fast consumption, Tak 360 blends hyperlocal reporting with national and global coverage under the banner “गली से ग्लोब तक”, positioning itself as a single destination for real-time news across genres. Politics, business, crime, culture, sports, fitness and wellness sit side by side in a continuous programming loop designed for frictionless viewing across connected devices.
The launch reflects a broader shift in how news is being consumed, as connected TV rapidly moves from the margins to the mainstream. With audiences increasingly favouring big-screen streaming for live and premium content, FAST channels are emerging as a low-friction, high-reach alternative to traditional television and subscription-led OTT.
Kalli Purie, vice chairperson and executive editor-in-chief of India Today Group, said the launch marked the group’s next phase of digital innovation. “With Tak 360, we are taking our legacy into the connected TV era. As audiences shift to connected platforms, Tak 360 strengthens our position as the country’s most future-ready digital news network,” she said.
Tak 360 will stream live across the group’s digital and connected ecosystem, including News Tak on YouTube and web, the Aaj Tak and India Today websites and apps, as well as the group’s connected TV apps — India Today, GNT and Aaj Tak — offering global, always-on access.
Backed by a strong editorial backbone, 24×7 programming and a focus on balanced, inclusive reporting, Tak 360 is being pitched as a national news destination that reflects India’s diversity while matching the speed and scale demanded by connected TV audiences.
As FAST gains momentum and the living room becomes the next newsroom battleground, India Today Group is moving early — and fast.
News Broadcasting
News TV viewership jumps 33 per cent as West Asia war draws audiences
BARC Week 8 data shows news share rising to 8 per cent despite T20 World Cup
NEW DELHI: Even as individual television news channel ratings remain under a temporary pause, the genre itself is seeing a clear surge in audience attention.
According to the latest data from Broadcast Audience Research Council India, television news recorded a 33 per cent jump in genre share in Week 8 of 2026, covering February 28 to March 6.
The news genre accounted for 8 per cent of total television viewership during the week, up from 6 per cent the previous week. The spike in attention coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have kept global headlines firmly fixed on West Asia.
The rise is notable because it came at a time when cricket was dominating television screens. The high-stakes stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the Super 8 fixtures and semi-finals, were being broadcast during the same period.
Despite the cricket frenzy, viewers appeared to be toggling between sport and global affairs, boosting the overall share of news programming.
The surge in genre share comes even as the government has enforced a one-month pause on publishing ratings for individual news channels. The move followed regulatory scrutiny of the television ratings ecosystem.
While channel-level rankings remain temporarily out of sight, the genre-level data suggests that when global tensions escalate, audiences continue to turn to television news for real-time updates.
