News18 Kannada ends TV9’s 20-year reign to claim no. 1 spot

MUMBAI: In a landmark moment for Karnataka’s television news ecosystem, News18 Kannada has unseated TV9 Kannada after 20 uninterrupted years at the top. The latest Barc ratings confirm a seismic shift in regional viewership, marking the first time since 2006 that TV9 Kannada has slipped from the no. 1 position.

News18 Kannada clinched the lead with 33,757 AMA 000s, capturing a robust 25.4 percent market share. TV9 Kannada followed closely at 32,937 AMA 000s with a 24.8 percent share. (Source: TG: NCC 15+; Week 46’25: 15–11–2025 to 21–11–2025 vs Week 45’25: 08–11–2025 to 14–11–2025, All)

The breakthrough underscores News18 Kannada’s growing resonance across the state, powered by its quick, reliable and sharply focused journalism. Viewers appear to be gravitating towards channels offering richer ground reporting, deeper local connect and stronger digital integration, signalling what industry observers call a broader “south-side shift” in news consumption behaviour.

With this feat, News18 Kannada joins the wider Network18 regional line-up, which includes strong performers such as News18 Kerala, News18 Tamil Nadu, News18 Gujarati, News18 Lokmat, News18 Bangla and News18 Assam/NE, among others.

The latest ratings not only place News18 Kannada at the peak for the first time in two decades but also confirm a changing tide in Karnataka’s news preferences. For viewers, it signals fresh energy in the regional news race. For the industry, it marks the beginning of a new chapter.