MUMBAI: TV news viewership in India rocketed during the week of 3 to 9 May, driven by the high-octane drama of Operation Sindoor —a military blitz by Indian armed forces against terror hubs in Pakistan.
Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) India reported a staggering 507 million viewers tuning into news content that week—the highest weekly total since 2022. Over the three critical days (7-9 May), news grabbed 16 per cent of total TV viewing, up from its usual 6 per cent slice.
Hindi news channels led the charge, clocking 254 gross rating points (GRPs), smashing previous highs seen during the 2024 Lok Sabha election results and major state elections. Viewer engagement spiked, with the average time spent on Hindi news jumping to 60 minutes—a 67 per cent rise over pre-operation weeks.
The frenzy peaked during ministry of external affairs (MEA) briefings on the operation. The first briefing on Wednesday sent viewership soaring by 509 per cent. Thursday and Friday briefings saw gains of 125 per cent and 242 per cent, respectively.
Operation Sindoor also brought 65 million fresh eyes to Hindi news—viewers who hadn’t touched the genre in the previous month. Daily tune-ins nearly doubled, leaping from 73 million to 142 million.
In the Hindi-speaking market (HSM 2+), the news genre’s share of TV content surged from three per cent to 13 per cent, with the 15+ age group soaring from four per cent to 15 per cent—outstripping the 2016 surgical strikes.
Barc India said the data reaffirms television’s enduring role as the go-to medium for news during major national events, underscoring its unparalleled reach and influence.
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