News Broadcasting
ZICA announces Kolkata arm
Close on the heels of TOONZ which along with WEBEL (West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Ltd ) recently set up the first animation school in the north east, Padmalaya ZICA (Zed institute of creative arts) has announced the opening of its Kolkatta branch.
In an advertisement inserted in major newspapers across the country, the institute invited applications for its new batch going to class early august. Having trained over 600 students since its inception in 1995 and with branches already operating in Hyderabad and Mumbai, Kolkata will be the institute’s third centre.
On being asked about its new centre, ZICA’s Rajiv Sangari said that ” We have been considering opening up a branch in Kolkatta for quite some time now, we believe that there is a lot of art and culture in Bengal which holds immense potential for the animation industry”
Set over 4,000 sq. feet, the institute shall boast of machines based on state of the art G5 Mac platform and software like MAYA, Shake and FCP.
Sangari further added that ” In response to our ad, on the first day itself we have received 450 calls, that too on a Sunday.” The total seats open are 160 with 50 each for Kolkatta and Hyderabad and 60 for Mumbai.
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.
