News Broadcasting
Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand delivers welcome address at Times Now Summit 2024
Mumbai: Times Network managing director & CEO MK Anand articulated the theme of this year’s summit: “Unstoppable India.” Emphasizing the significance of the summit’s focus, Anand highlighted the lineup of distinguished speakers who would delve into various aspects of this theme.
Anand underscored the role of the media in the context of India’s remarkable journey toward its full potential. He acknowledged the monumental task of ensuring that all segments of society are well-informed and engaged, free from bias or prejudice. Despite occasional challenges, Anand commended the Indian news media for its commendable reporting during historic and challenging periods.
Reflecting on Times Network’s journey over the past two decades, He draw attention to the network’s commitment to delivering dependable news platforms. Amidst rapidly evolving technological, social, and business landscapes, Times Network has consistently strived to remain at the forefront of news media in India.
However, he also addressed the challenges posed by the advent of social media, AI, and advanced graphics, which have revolutionised information consumption but also facilitated the spread of misinformation. He stressed the critical role of consumers in discerning between fact and fiction, urging them to choose their news sources wisely to uphold the integrity of journalism.
As the summit unfolds against the backdrop of historic elections and the dawn of a new era for India, Anand envisioned it as an opportunity for collective introspection and progress.
News Broadcasting
News TV viewership jumps 33 per cent as West Asia war draws audiences
BARC Week 8 data shows news share rising to 8 per cent despite T20 World Cup
NEW DELHI:Â Even as individual television news channel ratings remain under a temporary pause, the genre itself is seeing a clear surge in audience attention.
According to the latest data from Broadcast Audience Research Council India, television news recorded a 33 per cent jump in genre share in Week 8 of 2026, covering February 28 to March 6.
The news genre accounted for 8 per cent of total television viewership during the week, up from 6 per cent the previous week. The spike in attention coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have kept global headlines firmly fixed on West Asia.
The rise is notable because it came at a time when cricket was dominating television screens. The high-stakes stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, including the Super 8 fixtures and semi-finals, were being broadcast during the same period.
Despite the cricket frenzy, viewers appeared to be toggling between sport and global affairs, boosting the overall share of news programming.
The surge in genre share comes even as the government has enforced a one-month pause on publishing ratings for individual news channels. The move followed regulatory scrutiny of the television ratings ecosystem.
While channel-level rankings remain temporarily out of sight, the genre-level data suggests that when global tensions escalate, audiences continue to turn to television news for real-time updates.
