News Broadcasting
News18 India tops charts with 96.5 per cent viewership jump during India-Pakistan conflict
MUMBAI: As tensions flared during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, viewers across the country turned to News18 India in record numbers. The Hindi news channel soared to the top of the charts, notching a 96.5 per cent spike in Average Minute Audience (AMA000’s), according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data.
From 7-9 May, News18 India clocked 39,341 AMA000’s, establishing itself as the most-watched Hindi news channel during the period. Its Cumulative Reach’00 also saw a substantial rise, touching 45,438—a 49.9 per cent increase. (Source: BARC, Market: HSM, TG: 2+, Period: Wk 18’25)
In a volatile media environment flooded with misinformation about India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, News18 India focused on accurate, responsible, and timely reportage. The channel broke key developments, including the pivotal DGMO calls that halted further escalation.
Network18’s broader general news portfolio also registered a sharp rise in performance. With an AMA000’s count of 81,155, the network saw an 82.8 per cent boost. Its Cumulative Reach’00 reached 1,02,485, marking a 38.6 per cent week-on-week surge. (Source: BARC, Market: India, TG: 2+)
The network’s editorial strength stems from its top-tier anchors and an extensive on-ground network that enabled comprehensive, ground-up coverage. Network18’s portfolio includes News18 India and CNN-News18 on the national front, and a robust regional slate including News18 Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand, News18 Bihar/Jharkhand, News18 Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh, and News18 Bangla, among others.
Network18 has consistently held its position as the country’s number one news network for over two years, with its mix of rigorous journalism and regionally rooted storytelling continuing to win the trust of Indian audiences.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
