News Broadcasting
Raunac goes viral as News18 India mixes humour and headlines
MUMBAI: When news meets views and memes meet meaning, it’s time for Viral Baat Raunac ke Saath. News18 India, the country’s No. 1 Hindi news channel, is plugging into Gen Z’s frequency with its latest show featuring India’s favourite radio prankster-turned-digital dynamo, RJ Raunac.
Airing every Thursday and Friday at 8:35 pm starting next week, the show promises a punchy mix of trending talk, digital explainers, and laugh-out-loud insights on everything that’s making India scroll. Think AI-powered video explainers, viral social trends, national headlines with a meme-worthy spin and of course, Raunac’s trademark wit that turns even serious news into shareable moments.
The format is tailor-made for today’s short-attention-span audience: snackable clips will roll out across News18 India’s social handles, ensuring the show lives far beyond television screens. With humour, speed and digital savvy baked into its DNA, Viral Baat Raunac ke Saath aims to bridge the great divide between primetime anchors and your favourite reel-makers.
News18 India (PH & JKLH) managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “RJ Raunac is one of India’s most loved radio personalities and enjoys immense popularity among the youth. This show reflects our continuous efforts to adapt to new formats, collaborate with influencers, and engage audiences where they are. With Viral Baat Raunac ke Saath, we aim to blend news in a refreshing and relatable style, trending topics, humour and insights together in one engaging experience.”
For Raunac, the idea is simple, if the world can go viral, why not the news? “These days, everything goes viral, memes, reels, even people! So why not news? That’s exactly what we’re doing with Viral Baat Raunac ke Saath, where news meets views in the most entertaining way. With News18 India, we’re creating a show that makes you think, smile and share all at once!” he quipped.
The collaboration marks a clever turn in how mainstream media is courting digital creators to capture younger audiences. By bringing influencers into the news fold, News18 India is blurring the lines between newsroom rigour and online spontaneity turning current affairs into current fun.
From the mic to the meme, Raunac’s viral voice is all set to make prime time scroll-worthy again. So, when the clock hits 8:35, don’t just watch the news vibe with it. Show airs every Thursday and Friday, 8:35 pm on News18 India, and streams across its digital platforms.
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.
