News Broadcasting
News9 Plus unveils new docu-series ‘Poison in the Air.’
Mumbai: News9 Plus, the world’s first news OTT platform, has unveiled a groundbreaking new series titled ‘Poison in the Air.’ The series features two episodes: ‘Air Apocalypse,’ shedding light on the alarming rise of lung cancer among non-smokers in India due to escalating air pollution levels, and ‘Breathless,’ a comprehensive exploration into the life-threatening consequences of deteriorating air quality in India.
‘Breathless’ opens with a chilling revelation about the frequency of breathing—an involuntary action we perform every five to six seconds, totalling 12 to 20 breaths per minute, approximately 23,000 breaths in a day. The narrative poses a haunting question: What if every breath you take poses a threat to your life?
While ‘Air Apocalypse’ delves into the shocking findings of studies conducted by renowned institutions, such as Medanta Medicity, exposing the staggering increase in lung cancer cases among non-smokers, particularly in the pollution-ridden region of Delhi NCR.
Both the episodes draw inspiration from real-life experiences of individuals like Neera Shrivastav, a Delhi homemaker who, despite not smoking or drinking, was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2022. And Qazi Riaz Masood and Saadia Siddiqui, who share their struggles with the immediate health impacts of air pollution on themselves and their families.
The series unveils the shocking revelation that pollution, particularly in Delhi NCR, is a leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, as attested by medical experts and studies conducted by institutions like Medanta Medicity.
Medical experts, Institute of Internal Medicine chairman Dr. Randeep Guleria, and fellow at the Council on Energy, Environment & Water Karthik Ganesan, who feature in ‘Breathless’ provide invaluable insights into the alarming health hazards posed by air pollution. Dr. Guleria emphasizes the short-term and long-term effects on the respiratory system, heart, and other organs, while Ganesan sheds light on the complex factors contributing to Delhi’s severe air quality.
In an eye-opening interview in the episode of ‘Air Apocalypse’, Medanta Institute of chest surgery, chest onco surgery, and Lung Transplantation chairman Dr Arvind Kumar, reveals a significant shift in the demographic profile of lung cancer patients. The age at which non-smokers are diagnosed with lung cancer has preponed by about a decade and a half, with a staggering increase in cases among those under 50, including individuals in their 30s and even late 20s. The series underscores the detrimental impact of air pollution on the human body, especially for women and young individuals who have never smoked.
The series also features PSRI Institute of Pulmonology, chairman Dr. GC Khilnani, National Center for Atmospheric Research chairman Gufran Beig, Centre for Science and Environment executive director Anumita Roy Choudhary.
‘Poison in the Air’ featuring both the episodes was also broadcasted on News9 Live, the 24×7 live streaming platform that is an integral part of the News9 Mediaverse.
Watch ‘Poison in the Air’ on News9 Plus
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.
