News Broadcasting
Kkusum scores a perfect 10 in ratings
It seems to be Sony’s turn to ride the crest of the Balaji wave.
Kkusum and Kutumb, both family soaps from the Balaji stable have peaked at all time high TVRs of 10.2 and 8.3 respectively during the week ended 2 February, according to the channel. Quoting TAM figures, Sony says the channel has steadily consolidated its position in the 9 – 10 pm slot from October 2001, when the two serials went on air. The gradual phasing out of the once hugely popular Kaun Banega Crorepati on Star Plus coupled with the mass appeal of the staple Balaji fare seem to have combined to create a winning formula for Sony in the beginning of 2002.
While Kkusum is pitched as the extraordinary story of an ordinary girl and her family, Kutumb is touted as a fiery saga of a couple who get married for revenge. Kkusum goes on air at 9 pm on weekdays while Kutumb is aired Mondays to Thursdays at 9:30 pm. The channel is attempting to strengthen its prime time band by bringing in Dhadkan, a hospital series that airs Mondays to Wednesdays 8:30 pm.
Rivals Star Plus and Zee are mustering up their prime time fare as well. While Star has launched a slew of new shows from the New Year, Zee has also introduced new programmes across genres to bring in the audiences.
Comparative ratings during the week ended 2 February, 2002
9-10 pm TVRs
Sony
Star Plus
Zee
Oct ’01
6.2
7.3
4.3
Nov ’01
7.0
6.6
4.8
Dec ’01
7.5
7.3
4.1
Jan ’02
9.5
8.5
3.4
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.
