News Broadcasting
Issues received from Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad
Script approvals We feel that the process of approval of scripts prior to film productions by the Ministry of I & B for foreign film productions in India should be simplified if not eliminated, for example, why do we need the Indian government approving a script of a movie being produced for a foreign audience? Etc.
Approval of foreign cast and crew – We do not understand the need for seeking additional approval of the foreign cast and crew coming into India, after having already procured a visa from our missions abroad. This can be discussed during the meeting and if a representative is available from the Home Ministry, it will be worthwhile.
The supervision of production by NFDC supervisor – This is not only unnecessary but also a burden on production unit costs. Secondly, when the script is already approved then why does one need a supervisor? The supervision by NFDC or I & B official who has no background in creative filmmaking reminds us of the Inspector Raj which existed in other industries until recently. Please get rid of this vestige. The supervisors travel, food and accommodation, which is being borne by the production company becomes an additional, unwanted, unacceptable burden.
The screening of a completed film to the Ministry before release: This is very unreasonable and pointless especially in cases where pure production services are offered.
The RBI circular No. FEMA 61 / 2002 – RB dated May 02, 2002 (which prevent purchase of Insurance cover from a foreign insurance company) Indian production companies undertaking co-productions from foreign insurance companies. In an environment where an Indian insurance company is unable to even propose a comprehensive insurance coverage of a movie production unit, cast and crew, equipment, travel, etc, we should be allowed to take insurance coverage from foreign companies or enable a comprehensive insurance coverage for the Entertainment Industry to evolve within India.
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.
