News Broadcasting
India Today’s Putin interview goes global
NEW DELHI: India Today has scored a rare global hit. Its exclusive interview with Vladimir Putin has rippled far beyond Indian screens, racking up vast audiences, heavy newsroom pickup and sustained international chatter, according to the group’s newly released media impact report.
The numbers are arresting. The interview generated 235 million video views across television and digital platforms, with peak concurrent live viewership hitting 1.2 million worldwide. Social media added muscle, delivering 5.8 million interactions across Meta platforms, X, Instagram and YouTube.
The reach was not merely wide, but influential. The report records coverage, citation and attribution across 25 leading international media organisations, alongside prominent front-page and headline placements across Europe, Asia and the global south. International pickup included BBC, Reuters, Associated Press, The Washington Post and The New York Times, supplemented by extensive regional and multilingual adoption.
Measured against other recent political exclusives, the contrast is stark. High-profile Western interviews—ranging from Donald Trump’s appearances on 60 Minutes and ABC’s 100 Days to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s US broadcast engagements—drew strong domestic audiences but struggled to travel. India Today’s interview, by contrast, became a sustained reference point across global newsrooms, policy debates and diplomatic discourse.
Depth mattered as much as scale. Beyond live transmission, the interview continued to draw audiences weeks later, with digital consumption remaining robust and social engagement signalling active participation rather than passive reach.
By peak live viewership and post-broadcast performance, the report ranks the interview among the most-watched real-time global political conversations in recent years.
“This milestone marks a powerful start to the year and reinforces our commitment to journalism that shapes conversations across borders by asking questions that resonate with the global citizen,” said Kalli Purie, vice chairperson and executive editor-in-chief of India Today Group.
In a crowded media world, attention is fleeting. This one travelled—and stayed.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
