News Broadcasting
Sony Corp seeks two-week extension on MGM deal
MUMBAI: US Electronics goods manufacturer giant Sony Corporation has asked for a two-week extension on their exclusive acquisition talks with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (MGM).
The parties have been negotiating for around three weeks on a deal, on Sony Corp’s film studio acquiring MGM, valued at $5 billion. The talks were set to expire on Thursday 27 May.
Sony’s ambitious bid is backed by investment companies including Texas Pacific Group and Providence Equity Partners. The joint bid is to acquire the famed studio with its 4,000-title strong film library. Time Warner Inc. and NBC Universal have also been ogling MGM though they are yet to come out in the open to confirm this. Sony’s bid values MGM at just over $12 per share. But media reports have quoted industry sources as saying the quoted sum was not a major roadblock.
As analysed by Indiantelevision.com earlier, if Sony succeeds acquiring MGM, that would put ZEE TV and their collaboration with MGM, the ZEE MGM channel, in a tough spot. What would complicate the matter for ZEE is, Sony Corp’s Indian network Sony Entertainment Television is their competitor in India.
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.
