News Broadcasting
News18 India blows the competition out of the water on Youtube views
MUMBAI: In the noisy, over-caffeinated newsroom that is Indian Youtube, News18 India just walked in wearing aviators and dropped a mic. The Hindi news juggernaut smashed viewership records this March with 845 million views, claiming the crown as the most-watched channel in the news & politics category — not just in India, but globally.
That’s right, globally.
Not bad for a channel that also manages to look dramatic during rainfall updates.
According to Playboard stats, News18 India stayed a staggering 43 per cent ahead of its rival, which managed 589.4 million views.
It wasn’t even close.
At this point, News18 could file a restraining order against second place.
This viewership feat reinforces the channel’s iron grip on digital dominance and reflects a dual-platform loyalty that would make most marketers swoon. It’s not just about Youtube either. As per BARC data (Wk 08’23-07’25), News18 India has been the most-watched Hindi news channel on television for two straight years. Consistency, thy name is Kishore Ajwani… and company.
“This milestone reflects News18 India’s commitment to delivering impactful journalism at scale, meeting audiences where they are, and setting new benchmarks in the digital news landscape,” the network stated. Viewers have stuck around for the channel’s power-packed programming and not just the breathless countdowns.
Credit for the digital fireworks goes to a high-octane anchor line-up that includes Kishore Ajwani, Amish Devgan, Rubika Liyaquat, Prateek Trivedi, and Aman Chopra. Their collective ability to turn news into theatre – with facts, mind you – has clearly paid off. And with a nationwide reporting network feeding them updates faster than social media can trend a hashtag, real-time coverage remains the channel’s bread and butter.
News18 India’s numbers didn’t just spike during slow news days either. The Delhi polls, counting days, and other high-octane political events were all met with newsroom adrenaline and viewer loyalty. As India continues its love affair with digital content, News18 India appears to be the main character in this ongoing rom-com of facts and ratings.
News Broadcasting
UDF poised to return to power in Kerala, says Manorama-CVoter survey
Massive opinion poll projects shift in Kerala politics ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.
MUMBAI: The winds of change appear to be blowing through Kerala’s political landscape and this time, they seem to favour the United Democratic Front. A comprehensive mega opinion survey conducted by Manorama News in partnership with CVoter projects a potential comeback for the UDF in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. The survey, covering all 140 constituencies with a massive sample size of nearly 90,000 respondents, predicts the UDF could win between 69 and 81 seats.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to secure 57 to 69 seats, a significant drop from the 99 seats it won in the 2021 elections. This would mean the LDF losing 30 to 42 of its sitting seats. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which drew a blank in 2021, is projected to open its account with 1 to 5 seats.
Region-wise, the UDF is expected to make strong gains in Malabar, winning 25 to 34 out of 48 seats, and in Central Kerala, where it could bag 29 to 33 out of 53 seats. In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to retain an edge with 21 to 25 seats, while the UDF may improve to 12 to 16 seats. The NDA could pick up 1 to 3 seats in the southern region.
The survey was conducted between 14 and 26 March 2026, with additional tracker and snap polls carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 89,693 respondents participated, ensuring representation across all demographics and social segments.
Manorama News has a strong track record of accuracy, with its previous projections closely matching the actual results of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls.
In Kerala’s famously fierce political battles, this survey suggests the pendulum may be swinging back. Whether the final verdict matches these numbers or throws up another surprise, one thing is clear, the 2026 Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched contests in the state’s history.
