News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 dominates Bihar election coverage with record viewership
NEW DELHI: While Bihar was busy counting ballots, the rest of India was counting on CNN-News18. The news channel has turned its stunning Bihar election performance into a victory lap of its own, launching a bold front-page print campaign celebrating its dominance during one of the year’s most watched political events. And the numbers tell quite a story.
On 14 November, as the nation held its breath waiting for Bihar’s verdict, CNN-News18 captured an impressive 46.8 per cent market share during the critical counting hours between 7am and noon. To put that in perspective, the channel outperformed its three main rivals: Times Now, NDTV 24×7, and Republic TV – combined. The trio together managed just 44.2 per cent, trailing behind the solo leader.
It’s the kind of performance that makes competitors nervously check their own figures. Times Now and NDTV 24×7 each pulled 16.9 per cent, whilst Republic TV rounded out the rankings at 10.4 per cent. CNN-News18 essentially owned the day.
The channel wasted no time trumpeting its triumph with a clever print campaign headlined ‘When Bihar Was Counting Votes, India Was Counting on CNN-News18’. Confident? Absolutely. But when you’re pulling nearly half the viewership, perhaps you’ve earned the right.
What made viewers flock to CNN-News18 in such numbers? The channel deployed its heavyweight editorial team, including Zakka Jacob, Anand Narasimhan, Rahul Shivshankar, and Shivani Gupta, backed by an extensive ground reporting network across Bihar. The result was the kind of comprehensive, fast-paced coverage that keeps viewers glued during those nail-biting hours when every seat update matters.
Beyond just talking heads, CNN-News18 served up dynamic graphics, detailed explainers, and sharp data breakdowns that made complex electoral trends digestible for everyone, from political junkies to casual observers just wanting to know who won.
The Barc data, which tracked eight channels across India’s 15 plus age group with purchasing power, confirms what the print campaign celebrates: CNN-News18 has cemented itself as India’s go-to destination when elections roll around.
For a channel that promises ‘fast, factual, and first’ information, delivering on that pledge during high-stakes counting hours is where reputations are built or broken. On 14 November, CNN-News18 didn’t just deliver – it dominated, proving once again that when India wants to know what’s happening, they know exactly where to look.
The Bihar results may be history now, but CNN-News18’s commanding performance has set quite the benchmark for future election coverage. One thing’s certain, the competition will be watching those numbers closely, wondering how to close a gap that currently looks rather unbridgeable.
(Source: Barc India | Market: India | TG: 15+ AB | Period: Week 45’25 | Market Share % | 14 Nov, 07:00–12:00 hrs | 8 channels considered.)
MUMBAI: Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late Ajit Pawar, will take oath as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister on Saturday, media reports say, two days after his death in a plane crash.
According to reports, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has summoned a legislature party meeting at 2pm on Saturday, where Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha member, is expected to be elected as leader. She is then likely to be sworn in as deputy chief minister at around 5pm at Raj Bhavan, as preparations are underway at the governor’s residence.
Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and a veteran NCP leader, died when a chartered Learjet 45 carrying him and four others crashed near Baramati on 28 January. The aviation regulator confirmed that all on board were killed when the aircraft burst into flames during a second landing attempt.
The sudden loss of one of Maharashtra’s most experienced politicians has prompted swift consultation among NCP leaders. Party figures, including working president Praful Patel, have been involved in talks on succession and organisational continuity. Reports suggest that several senior leaders support Sunetra Pawar’s elevation, viewing it as a unifying choice at a fraught moment.
According to party allies, Sunetra Pawar may also be considered for additional responsibilities within the state government. Some sources indicate that she would oversee portfolios such as excise and sports, while the finance brief could move to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Observers see this as a pragmatic division of duties intended to balance governance and political stability.
The transition unfolds against the backdrop of wider speculation over the future of the NCP, including talks about reconciling rival factions that split in recent years. Close aides of Ajit Pawar had been exploring avenues to bring the party’s different strands back together before his death, and that conversation may now gain fresh impetus.
Ajit Pawar’s demise has left a notable vacuum in Maharashtra politics. As a long-serving deputy chief minister, he had overseen key portfolios, including finance and planning, and played a central role in the state’s coalition government. His unexpected death has triggered intense reflection among allies and critics alike on both his legacy and the path ahead.
As Maharashtra prepares for Sunetra Pawar’s swearing-in, the NCP faces its most urgent test in years: turning tragedy into cohesion and navigating a new chapter in state leadership.
NEW DELHI: According to media reports, Firstpost has appointed senior journalist Binoy Prabhakar as its new chief content officer, bringing seasoned editorial expertise on board as the digital news platform embarks on its next phase of growth.
Prabhakar joins from Hindustan Times, where he spent nearly three years as chief content officer, shaping editorial strategy and guiding content for a rapidly evolving digital audience.
Earlier, he served as editor at Moneycontrol and CNBCTV18.com, and spent over a decade at The Economic Times in senior editorial roles. His career also includes leadership positions at Network18, The Indian Express and The Times of India.
A fellow of the Tow Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism in New York, Prabhakar combines newsroom experience with a keen understanding of digital storytelling.
At Firstpost, he is expected to strengthen editorial depth, sharpen the platform’s voice, and drive content innovation as readers increasingly look for clarity in a crowded news landscape.
NEW DELHI: According to media reports, senior journalist Palki Sharma has stepped down from her role as managing editor of Firstpost and is set to launch her own independent venture.
During her impactful tenure at Network18, Sharma was the primary architect behind Firstpost’s transformation into a global video news powerhouse. Her most notable achievement was the launch of the flagship show, Vantage with Palki Sharma, which became a digital phenomenon, driving the platform to reach 9.2 million YouTube subscribers by early 2026.
Under her leadership, the platform achieved a historic milestone of over 2 billion views in 2025, successfully repositioning the brand to offer a “uniquely Indian lens” on international affairs for a massive global audience.
According to the same reports, Firstpost has also appointed Binoy Prabhakar as its chief content officer. Prabhakar brings over 25 years of editorial experience, having previously worked with media organisations such as Hindustan Times, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, Moneycontrol, and CNBCTV18.com. He will be responsible for guiding Firstpost’s editorial direction as the brand moves into its next phase of growth.
As Firstpost turns the page, the moves signal transition, not disruption. While Palki Sharma charts an independent path after reshaping the platform’s global voice, Binoy Prabhakar steps in to steer its next chapter with seasoned editorial leadership.
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