News Broadcasting
News channels hit record viewership in terror week
MUMBAI: As the deadly terror attacks struck Mumbai on 26 November, Indians all over the country stayed glued to news channels. Providing regular updates and a rigorous 60 hours of live TV coverage, the news genre gained immensely during this period.
Hindi news channels occupied 22.4 per cent of the entire TV viewing share for the four days (26 to 29 November) of terror coverage, the highest the genre has ever recorded in Indian television. Hindi general entertainment channels, which enjoy maximum TV viewing, had a share of 19.5 per cent while Hindi movie channels took away a 15.1 per cent share, as per Tam data (C&S, 4+, HSM).
For the week ended 29 November, Hindi news channels have seen a 10 per cent surge in market share to 16.1 per cent, from an average of 6.7 per cent in the prior four weeks (26 October to 22 November).
Hindi general entertainment channels, which were not showing any fresh content due to the dispute between TV producers and workers, were hard hit, with the genre share sliding to 22 per cent for the week, from a previous four-week average of 32.4 per cent.
The high-voltage drama has fetched Aaj Tak the highest number of viewers among the Hindi news channels. Aaj Tak has gained 6 per cent to enjoy a market share of 23 per cent for the week ended 29 November. The next big gainer in the Hindi news genre is Zee News, with a 3 per cent rise to 11 per cent.
In the pack, Star News is at 16 per cent (gained 1 per cent) while India TV and IBN7 has seen no change which stand at 16 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.
NDTV India also remains static at 8 per cent, followed by News24 and Samay both at 4 per cent. Tez has slipped by 1 per cent, DD news, Live India have fallen by 2 per cent each.
In the English news genre, NDTV 24X7, which has gained 5 per cent, has captured the highest market share for the week with 30 per cent (C&S, 15+, All India). Times Now also gained 5 per cent to garner a share of 28 per cent.
CNN-IBN lost in the numbers game, slipping 6 per cent to have a share of 24 per cent. Down the ladder, NewsX gained marginally to have a 9 per cent share among English news channels while Headlines Today fell from 13 per cent to 9 per cent.
News Broadcasting
News18 India to air Sabse Bada Dangal on 4 May counting day
Channel promises fastest results, live trends and analysis across five states.
MUMBAI: Ballots will do the talking and screens will do the shouting. As counting day approaches for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, News18 India is gearing up for an all-day broadcast of its flagship election show, Sabse Bada Dangal, on 4 May from 6 am onwards. The Hindi news channel plans to deliver continuous, real-time updates as votes are tallied, combining live counting data with on-ground reporting and studio analysis. With political fortunes set to shift through the day, the coverage will track every swing, surge and surprise as trends turn into results.
The broadcast will feature a mix of senior political leaders, analysts and experts, offering instant reactions and decoding the evolving electoral picture. Expect heated debates, quick takes and detailed breakdowns as the numbers settle across all five states.
For News18 India, counting day has long been a high-visibility moment. The network is banking on its reporting reach, editorial bandwidth and technology-driven coverage to stay ahead in what is often a fiercely competitive news cycle.
With multiple battlegrounds and shifting narratives, the day promises both drama and data in equal measure. And if all goes to plan, Sabse Bada Dangal will once again turn the counting of votes into prime-time spectacle.
