News Broadcasting
Battle to be world’s #1 news site hots up as BBC numbers soar
MUMBAI: New research from ComScore* has revealed that the BBC’s global audience has grown by 30% since 2012 to 73.4m unique browsers – just 200,000 (0.27%) short of CNN’s 73.6m.
The competition to claim the top spot in online news intensified in July as the BBC outpaced the market to overtake all other international rivals.
The BBC puts its sustained growth down to a programme of product investment, enhanced feature content on bbc.com, the increasing popularity of the BBC’s suite of language sites and its continued commitment to first-hand reporting from an unmatched network of international correspondents.
In a period of unprecedented industry change the BBC has retained its position as the most trusted international news broadcaster and continues to take market share. Studies** have shown the BBC to be the leader in global breaking news with stories from a wider geographical spread of places and journalists in more countries than any other international news provider.
Separate research also showed that the BBC is by far the most shared news brand on Twitter, with the latest figures*** revealing that its stories were shared a record-breaking 3.5 million times in July – over a million more than its nearest competitor.
Peter Horrocks, Director of the World Service Group, said, “In a year that has seen wave after wave of fast-moving and constantly evolving breaking news stories from all corners of the world we are delighted that audiences are increasingly turning to the BBC for up-to-the-minute coverage from a trusted and impartial source.
“As the world gets smaller and big stories affect us all, our worldwide network of journalists and uniquely global perspective are increasingly valuable. Our aim is to become the leaders in global news online. It’s a bold ambition and we do not underestimate the competition, but the game is on.”
The BBC enjoyed particular success in North America – the home market of many of the BBC’s competitors and one of only a handful of regions in the world where it does not already take the top spot. July saw its unique desktop users grow 6% month on month and 16% year on year, bucking the trend and moving the BBC up to 4th place.
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News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
