News Broadcasting
Rahul Chaudhari back as UPKL’s Season 2 star
MUMBAI: UPKL kicked off its Season 2 build-up with a star raid of its own, renewing its partnership with the much-loved Rahul Chaudhari. The Showman of Kabaddi returns as brand ambassador, ensuring the league keeps its flair and fanfare intact.
The move signals UPKL’s intent to build on its reputation as one of India’s most organised and fast-growing state leagues. With its structured framework, athlete-first model and strong community engagement, the league aims to push Kabaddi deeper into the mainstream.
Rahul, who began as a defender before rising to fame as one of India’s fiercest raiders, brings experience and star power to the platform. His stellar record includes gold medal victories at the 2016 South Asian Games and the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. He has also captained India at the 2014 Beach Asian Games in Thailand and led Uttar Pradesh in the 2015 National Kabaddi Championship.
SJ Uplift Kabaddi founder and director Sambhav Jain said, “UPKL’s growth from Season 1 to 2 shows how regional leagues can become strong ecosystems that connect communities and convert local passion into national interest. Rahul brought star value to our first season and with him continuing, we can widen visibility, energise the league and strengthen its appeal.”
Rahul Chaudhari shared his excitement, “Season 1 showed incredible hunger and potential. UPKL has opened doors for grassroots players to shine at a national level. It is a meaningful launchpad and my partnership with the league reflects our shared belief in Kabaddi’s future. I am confident the next season will offer young talent the opportunity they deserve.”
Adding to the momentum, UPKL has further boosted its reach through a broadcast partnership with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited’s new initiatives arm Zee Sports. The collaboration will help drive nationwide viewership across TV and digital platforms.
Season 2 will feature 12 teams competing in 71 matches over 19 action-packed days in Noida, beginning 25 December 2025.
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.
