News Broadcasting
NDTV channels to soon go off air on IMCL
MUMBAI: Subscribers of MSO IndusInd Media & Communications Limited (IMCL) will soon not be able to view NDTV channels.
A scroll running on the home page of the MSO warns subscribers that ‘Public notice: NDTV channels namely NDTV 24X7, NDTV Profit, NDTV Goodtimes and NDTV Hindi are liable to be switched off due to non payment.’ If customers want to continue viewing the channels then they can either call up IMCL’s toll free number or send an email.
An executive from NDTV’s distribution team said that the network’s deal with IMCL was up for renewal but the MSO was asking for an exorbitant amount of carriage fees. The broadcaster on the other hand is not willing to give in to the demands.
“IMCL has lost huge ground in Mumbai and some other areas because of digitisation and despite that they are asking for such high carriage fees. They don’t want to negotiate a lower price and neither do we have the intent to pay more. So, most probably we won’t be renewing the deal,” says an executive from the network.
IMCL has approximately 10 lakh set top boxes in Mumbai and the surrounding areas that come under digital addressable system (DAS) I.
Another executive from the network said, “They don’t have value for money. If they want to disconnect, then it’s up to them. If the subscribers want the channel, they will ask for it, if they don’t then also it won’t bother us much.”
IMCL executives were unavailable for comment on the issue.
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.
