News Broadcasting
Sony Pictures takes stake in Elizabeth Murdoch’s company Shine
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has taken a stake in Elizabeth Murdochs UK production company Shine entertainment.
As per the deal SPTI will distribute the television content of Shine internationally.
SPTI will invest growth capital in Shine and become a minority equity shareholder, alongside current investor 3i. Shine and SPTI’s UK production teams will continue to operate independently but will also work together to develop new dramas and other programming. SPTI will distribute all Shine original programs and formats worldwide, except in the US, where Shine will continue to represent their own formats and SPTI will distribute Shine’s completed programming.
SPTI president Michael Grindon said, SPTI has had a long history of producing popular original shows and formats with local broadcasters and producers. Becoming a strategic partner in Shine is a perfect fit with our growth plans for our international production and distribution businesses. With Shines impressive roster of production talent, we look forward to continued expansion of its production business.
The daughter of Rupert Murdoch, Elizabeth Murdoch is credited with makiing a mark on the media world on her own. Elizabeth Murdoch who is the chairman and CEO of Shine says, We are confident that our expanded partnership with Sony will allow Shine to continue to grow at an accelerated pace. Having the support of one of the worlds leading distributors will offer Shines extraordinary creative executives the worldwide platform and resources to realise their fullest potential.
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.
