News Broadcasting
Is Aaj Tak going English or regional?
NEW DELHI: The information and broadcasting ministry has received an application from Aaj Tak for starting a news channel and seeking a no-objection for uplinking the channel from India. But there is a catch: the permission has been sought for a regional language news channel.
According to government sources, though many news channels have been proposed, in recent times one application that has come forth seeking various permissions from the I&B ministry, subsequent to which okays will be given by other government agencies and departments, is that of Aaj Tak, which proposes to start a regional language channel.
If government sources are to be believed, then Aaj Tak’s advertisement, which had been brought out in various editions of The Times Of India seeking candidates for various categories, including editorial, is for a regional channel, contrary to popular belief that the proposed news channel will be in English. The ad itself does not mention anywhere in the copy that the proposed channel will be an English one.
Aaj Tak’s application is being processed for necessary action to be taken on the request, sources say. Aaj Tak Hindi , launched end 2001, has emerged as a strong player in the news channel space and has also managed to dislodge Zee News, primarily catering to the Hindi speaking audiences in the country, from the top slot.
In an annual brand evaluation exercise, which is undertaken by business newspaper Business Standard and reported in today’s edition, Aaj Tak, occupying the third spot, is the only media brand to have figured amongst a host of FMCG and consumer electronics brand.
The government source also said that despite the hype, no application from Star India has come yet for their proposed news channel. Star’s five year content agreement with NDTV for content on Star News comes to an end on 31 March , 2003.
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.
