News Broadcasting
Times Now absorbs Mirror Now in strategic shake-up
MUMBAI: India’s leading English news channel, Times Now, is getting even bigger. In a bold strategic realignment, Mirror Now will be merged into Times Now, consolidating the network’s editorial firepower and strengthening its grip on the English news market.
With a legacy spanning nearly two decades, Times Now has built a reputation for hard-hitting, agenda-setting journalism. The merger is set to amplify its impact, ensuring sharper analysis, stronger reportage, and a more unified editorial voice.
As the media landscape shifts, Times Network is doubling down on growth, innovation, and excellence—not just for viewers but for its newsroom talent. By fostering a high-energy, forward-thinking editorial ecosystem, the network is cementing its place as a powerhouse of fearless journalism and impactful storytelling.
Meanwhile, Times Now Navbharat continues to shake up the Hindi news space with its action-driven journalism. On the business front, ET Now and ET Now Swadesh remain India’s most trusted sources for market insights, delivering expert analysis and deep financial intelligence to audiences across the country.
With this realignment, Times Network is making it clear: in the fast-moving world of news, it’s staying ahead of the curve—and the competition.
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: 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.
