News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18 leads budget day ratings with 83.5 per cent share
Business news leader dominates FM speech and market hours
MUMBAI: When the finance minister rose to deliver the Union Budget on 1 February, viewers tuned in with one clear preference. CNBC-TV18 captured a commanding 83.5 per cent market share during the speech, underlining its position as India’s most-watched business news channel.
The figures, sourced from Barc India for Week 5 of 2026, show the channel drawing in the lion’s share of viewers between 11.00 am and 12.30 pm, the crucial window when policy pronouncements meet market nerves.
The dominance did not stop once the speech concluded. Across key market hours from Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, CNBC-TV18 delivered an even stronger 84.9 per cent share in the 10L plus markets among the 22 plus AB male audience. In a week when traders track every syllable and investors weigh every comma, the channel remained firmly in command.
Over the full 24-hour budget day cycle, CNBC-TV18 retained a clear lead within the business news genre, securing a 75 per cent market share nationwide. The numbers suggest sustained engagement well beyond the headline moments, reflecting continued viewer trust as markets digested the fine print.
With a 26-year legacy built on credible journalism and real-time market insight, CNBC-TV18 once again proved that when India Inc., policy makers and investors seek clarity amid economic crosscurrents, they know exactly where to turn.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
