News Broadcasting
NDTV pivots to live entertainment with star-studded concert series
NEW DELHI: NDTV, India’s three-decade-old news broadcaster, is striking out into uncharted territory with the launch of NDTV Good Times, a live entertainment venture that promises to bring marquee musical acts to iconic venues across the country.
The move marks a bold departure for the Delhi-based media house, which has built its reputation on hard news and current affairs. Now it is betting that India’s youthful demographics and growing disposable income will fuel demand for premium live experiences.
The inaugural lineup reads like a who’s who of Indian music. AR Rahman will perform at Varanasi’s sacred ghats along the Ganges, while Sonu Nigam plans a tribute to legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi at Kashmir’s Dal Lake. The roster also includes composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and popular singers Jubin Nautiyal and Neha Kakkar.
“NDTV has always stood at the intersection of storytelling and society,” said chief executive and editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal. The company aims to “curate iconic performances that will not just entertain but also inspire, connect, and create lasting memories.”
The venture taps into a global trend where live entertainment has become a cultural force, particularly among younger audiences who prize authentic, shared experiences over passive consumption. India, with one of the world’s youngest populations, appears ripe for such offerings.
NDTV’s strategy leverages its existing broadcast and digital infrastructure to amplify these events beyond their physical venues. The company has partnered with ticketing platform District to handle bookings and logistics.
Rahul Shaw, the newly minted chief experiences officer, positions the initiative as “reimagining the heartbeat” of Indian culture by combining top-tier talent with extraordinary settings.
The move comes as traditional media companies worldwide grapple with changing consumption patterns and seek new revenue streams. Whether NDTV’s gamble on live entertainment pays off will depend on its ability to translate its storytelling credibility into successful event curation—and whether Indian audiences are ready to pay premium prices for the privilege.
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.
