News Broadcasting
Prasad meets PM, asserts CAS rollout deadline stands but softens tone
NEW DELHI: The 14 July deadline for rollout of conditional access system (CAS) stands, the government said today, though it is trying to tone down the stridency in its approach.
“The Prime Minister told me that the government should ensure that the (cable) consumers don’t end up paying higher (in a post-CAS regime) than what they are paying now,” information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told waiting journalists outside Atal Behari Vajpayee’s residence after a meeting with the PM today evening.
Asked what would be the price that the government thinks consumers are paying at present for their cable TV service, Prasad said, “The average would be between Rs 150-350.”
Upping of the limit to Rs 350 is an indicator of the fact that the government is attempting to soften what was earlier seen as a rigid stance on pricing. Prasad had earlier said that pay channels, along with the basic tier, would cost the consumers around Rs 200.
Reiterating that the deadline of 14 July for CAS implementation in the four metros stands and has got the backing of the Prime Minister, Prasad, however, again appealed to all the stakeholders of the industry, including the broadcasters, to facilitate a smooth transition to a CAS regime wherein the consumer would be king.
“I am aware of my powers in law, (but) I’ll again appeal to broadcasters to be consumer friendly,” Prasad said, adding that if the consumers are happy, then the broadcasters too would be happy.
“The law is very clear that if by the deadline (14 July) pay channels don’t declare their prices, they go off the TV screens,” Prasad added
According to the minister, he had last met the PM on CAS a month back and today he updated Vajpayee on the steps taken by the government, especially his ministry, on working towards a consumer-friendly CAS regime.
Asked whether the government is considering banning advertisements on pay channels to make the so-called errant broadcasters fall in line, Prasad said, “I am exploring every option.”
But experts say that bringing in a legislative change to rein in pay channels by banning ads on them or putting a quota on them would create problems for the government as Parliament is unlikely to okay such changes in a hurry without a thorough debate. Moreover, an ordinance in this regard aimed at cable operators or even the foreign broadcasters may not get the desired result as the next session of Parliament is round the corner and coincides with the CAS deadline.
As per law, an Ordinance has to go back to Parliament for ratification and that, again, may create problems for the government, experts say.
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.
