News Broadcasting
NDTV’s Chennai news channel to be called NDTV Hindu; launch on 16 May
MUMBAI: The NDTV joint venture Chennai city-based English news and entertainment channel with The Hindu is titled NDTV Hindu.
As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the channel will launch on 16 May.
The free-to-air channel will be aired on two leading multi-system operators – SCV and Hathway Cable & Datacom.
With a tagline “Nonstop programmes for Nonstop Chennai,” the channel will cover breaking news and current affairs as well as user-friendly information on the hottest eateries, latest gizmos in town and best shopping and hangout destinations in the city.
Announcing the launch, NDTV Ltd chairman Prannoy Roy said, “We firmly believe that the future of news is in going local. The Hindu Group with its impeccable credentials has been a household name for generations in Chennai and this partnership will help NDTV Hindu to capitalise on the brand strengths and journalistic values of both the media houses.”
The Hindu editor-in-chief N Ram added, “Chennai is fast evolving as a cosmopolitan city. Though there are a few Indian language channels that exist for local news, yet there is no English channel catering exclusively to this vibrant city. With NDTV’s strong television broadcasting and editorial capabilities, NDTV Hindu will bring out the true flavor of the city through its high-end content.”
The channel will invite students from Chennai schools for the weekly show titled I Spy with My Digital Eye where they will be taught how to make films, all caught on camera. The channel will also offer a show for shopaholics called Super Shopper that will introduce Chennaites into the world of style and glamour as the show hosts travel to city boutiques, stores, malls and even the footpath to check out the best deals and sales. Shift Focus, on the other hand, will showcase who went where over the weekend, what’s the latest show in town and latest updates on exhibitions, night dos & book launches within Chennai and around the state.
Jennifer Arul, managing editor and COO of the channel, will round up the day’s happenings in and around the city and national news of importance in Night Vision.
As the launch is coinciding with the counting day, Arul will start with the election special Night Vision with Media Development Foundation chairman Sashi Kumar for a detailed analysis of the 15th Lok Sabha results.
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.
