Tag: News18 India

  • CM Bhupesh Baghel to grace News18’s ‘Agenda Chhattisgarh’ summit

    CM Bhupesh Baghel to grace News18’s ‘Agenda Chhattisgarh’ summit

    Mumbai: Against the backdrop of the upcoming state elections, News18 Network will be organising its ‘Agenda Chhattisgarh’ summit on 30 September 2023 in Raipur. This platform will bring together some of the most prominent leaders from Chhattisgarh to discuss and deliberate on issues that are defining the electoral narrative of the state.

    The chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel will grace the event as the chief guest and speak extensively about his vision for the state, its future, and address crucial matters relating to the impending elections. The summit will also see participation from the deputy chief minister, T. S. Singh Deo as well as the state home minister, Tamradhwaj Sahu.

    Other top leaders and policymakers including the Chhattisgarh urban development minister, Shivkumar Dahariya, minister of transport Chhattisgarh, Mohammad Akbar, Congress in-charge of state, Kumari Selja, president of AAP Chhattisgarh, Komal Hupendi will also be speaking at the summit. ‘Agenda Chhattisgarh’ will see an insightful discussion between Sushil Anand Shukla from Congress and Shrichand Sundrani from BJP.

    News18 has been at the forefront of driving the discourse on development across the country for many years. News18’s ‘Agenda Chhattisgarh’ summit has been thoughtfully designed to serve as a platform for comprehensive discussions on the most critical challenges Chhattisgarh is facing today.

    Tune in to ‘Agenda Chhattisgarh’ on News18 MP/CG on 30 September starting 3:00 p.m. onwards. The channel’s YouTube platform will also stream the summit, which can be

    News18 MP Chhattisgarh

     

  • News18 India hosts star cast of ‘Vaccine War’

    News18 India hosts star cast of ‘Vaccine War’

    Mumbai: News18 India has aired an exclusive interview with the star cast of the highly anticipated movie ‘Vaccine War’.  The panel hosted by the one of channel’s top anchors Amish Devgan included the film’s director Vivek Agnihotri, producer and actress Pallavi Joshi, and actor Nana Patekar, and was featured on Aar Paar, one of News18 India’s most popular shows.

    In a discussion about his films, Vivek Agnihotri underscored the significance of Indian cinema as a medium to convey India’s stories to its people. He stressed that movies like ‘Kashmir Files and ‘Vaccine War’ play a pivotal role in building the Indian narrative. Agnihotri acknowledged the challenging times faced by India’s healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic but praised the steadfast dedication of Indian doctors and scientists who, through relentless hard work, developed vaccines, ensuring the safety of the nation.

    He delved into the concept of ‘Sanatan’, emphasizing India’s uniqueness as a democracy where anyone can rise to top leadership positions, a phenomenon rarely seen elsewhere. Agnihotri also raised intriguing questions about whether a country like America would allow individuals with names like Hitler or Osama bin Laden to hold ministerial positions. He criticized Bollywood for sidelining common people in films, attributing the lack of success that some films face to this, and commended South Indian cinema for keeping the essence of the common man alive.

    The legendary actor Nana Patekar expressed his willingness to explore various film genres but stressed that quality takes precedence over quantity, especially at the age of 73. He candidly admitted that he might not have the capacity to take on numerous projects anymore, which is why he is dedicated to projects like ‘Vaccine War’. Patekar warmly recalled his collaboration with Irrfan Khan during the filming of ‘Salaam Bombay’, praising his extraordinary talent and humanity. He humorously recounted an incident when Irrfan suggested to him that he plant a Night-Blooming Jasmine, a task he couldn’t fulfil at that time but now intends to accomplish. Patekar concluded by emphasizing that an artist transcends any caste or creed; an artist is simply an artist.

    Pallavi Joshi, a seasoned actress, vehemently denied claims that her films are driven by a particular agenda. She emphasized that her films have no political agenda.

    The interview on News18 India’s ‘Aar Paar’ provided an insightful platform for these eminent personalities to share their perspectives on the film industry and their experiences with ‘Vaccine War’. The film has already garnered substantial attention, making this interview highly relevant for the viewers.

  • Super exclusive News18 India interview with Smriti Irani

    Super exclusive News18 India interview with Smriti Irani

    Mumbai: News18 India recently aired a super exclusive interview with Smriti Zubin Irani, the union minister for women and child development. The highly-anticipated interview, conducted by renowned anchor Aman Chopra, touched upon several critical topics, including the longstanding demand for women’s reservation, political strategies, and the role of the Congress party in shaping the discourse.

    In a candid conversation, Smriti Irani highlighted the historical significance of the demand for women’s reservation, emphasizing that it dates back to the time of the Constitution’s formation. She pointed out that despite the demand persisting for 75 years, the government successfully took historic steps within 72 hours to address this issue.

    Addressing the Congress party’s role in women’s reservation, Smriti Irani stated that their policy was clear, but questioned why, during the UPA era when they had a full majority, they failed to pass the bill and allowed it to lapse. She also noted that Sonia Gandhi was absent from the floor during the voting and introduction of the bill.

    Furthermore, Smriti Irani disputed the Congress party’s attempt to credit Rajiv Gandhi for the women’s reservation bill, calling it a false claim. She pointed out that P.V. Narasimha Rao ensured women’s reservation in Panchayati Raj, but the Congress party did not acknowledge his contribution.

    Smriti Irani also criticised the Congress party for its derogatory comments about women and their lack of support for the bill. She highlighted the insensitive remarks made by some of their allies and questioned their commitment to women’s empowerment.

    Regarding Rahul Gandhi’s recent statements about the bill, Smriti Irani clarified that the Constitution, in Article 82, clearly outlines the process of providing reserved seats, including census, delimitation, and then implementation. She criticised Rahul Gandhi’s oversimplification of complex issues and urged him to understand the intricacies involved.

    Smriti Irani also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s newfound focus on OBCs, reminding the public of his past statements about the prime minister’s caste. She pointed out that the Modi government has been continuously targeted for nine years, even when the prime minister’s mother was alive. She highlighted the significant representation of OBCs in the BJP and questioned whether the Congress party had ever genuinely promoted OBC interests.

    In the interview, Smriti Irani criticised the Gandhi family for their remote control approach to the economy and their habit of visiting religious places before elections. She accused them of repeatedly insulting religious sentiments for electoral gains.

    In conclusion, Smriti Irani emphasised that the Congress party’s approach to issues like women’s reservation and religion has been divisive and opportunistic. She called for a more informed and responsible discourse in Indian politics.

  • News18 India promises unprecedented cricket extravaganza in Asia Cup Final: India vs. Sri Lanka

    News18 India promises unprecedented cricket extravaganza in Asia Cup Final: India vs. Sri Lanka

    Mumbai: News18 India, the leading Hindi news channel, is gearing up for an electrifying showdown in the cricketing world. On 17 September 2023, all eyes will be on the Asia Cup Final, where India take on Sri Lanka in a battle that promises to be nothing short of epic.

    As the number Hindi news channel, News18 India is on a mission to provide cricket enthusiasts and a diverse audience with a memorable and informative experience. With a focus on engaging content throughout the pre-match, during the game, and post-match phases, News18 India aims to captivate viewers with its comprehensive coverage.

    The Asia Cup final coverage on News18 India is designed to be a visual spectacle. Viewers can expect a feast for the eyes, with visually appealing graphics that enhance their understanding of the game’s dynamics. Expert panels, consisting of renowned cricketing voices, will be on hand to provide valuable insights, adding depth to the viewers’ cricketing knowledge.

    One of the cornerstones of News18 India’s coverage is interactivity. In an era where cricket fans are more engaged than ever, the channel is committed to delivering content that keeps viewers actively involved. From real-time updates to interactive content, News18 India ensures that no moment of the game goes unnoticed.

    The in-depth analysis provided by the channel will be both enlightening and entertaining, striking a balance that caters to both hardcore cricket aficionados and casual viewers. The coverage’s tone will be thoughtfully crafted to both engage and inform, striking a balance between entertainment and vital insights.

    News18 India’s broadcasting of the Asia Cup Final won’t be confined to television alone. In line with the evolving media landscape, the channel will extend its reach to digital platforms and social media, ensuring that fans can access the action wherever they are.

    As time is ticking for this intense cricketing battle, News18 India invites all cricket enthusiasts to stay tuned for an unforgettable experience. India and Sri Lanka will vie for supremacy and bragging rights in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Whether you’re a die-hard cricket fan or a casual observer, News18 India, India’s number one Hindi news channel guarantees a cricketing spectacle that will leave you enthralled.

    Watch “Jeetega bhai Jeetega” on News18 India on 17 Sep’23 from 2pm onwards.

  • News18 India unveils exclusive interview with health minister on Ayushman Bhava campaign

    News18 India unveils exclusive interview with health minister on Ayushman Bhava campaign

    Mumbai: News18 India, India’s number one Hindi news channel, recently hosted an exclusive interview with Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s minister of health and family welfare. During this interview, News18 India managing editor Kishore Ajwani delved into the remarkable achievements of the Ayushman Bharat program and India’s steadfast commitment to public health and global solidarity.

    To celebrate prime minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, a groundbreaking initiative known as Ayushman Bhava is set to launch on a national scale. The campaign is scheduled to run from September 17th to October 2nd, and minister Mansukh Mandaviya has passionately called upon the nation’s citizens to actively participate. He revealed that “Seva Pakhwada” will be celebrated during these 15 days, welcoming any Indian citizen, social organization, representative, or political party to partake in this noble endeavor.

    The Ayushman Bharat program, a government-led healthcare initiative, has positively impacted an astonishing 600 million individuals, providing them with crucial healthcare benefits. In a significant step towards improving accessibility and user-friendliness, the government recently introduced an innovative mobile application, ensuring ease and convenience for beneficiaries.

    One of the program’s standout features is its widespread reach, with an impressive 240 million individuals already possessing Ayushman cards. Minister Mandaviya disclosed that these cards could now serve as a means for organ donation, streamlining the process and granting donors a certificate of their altruistic contribution.

    Minister Mandaviya emphasised, “Ayushman Bharat is more than just a program; it is evolving into a monumental campaign.” Prime Minister Modi’s vision of offering free medical treatment up to 500,000 rupees has already transformed countless lives, and the upcoming Ayushman Villages initiative aims to further bolster healthcare accessibility.

    Expressing his deep faith in the initiative, minister Mandaviya stated, “We are undertaking this campaign for the betterment of humanity,” expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support from citizens and NGOs eager to collaborate for the greater good.

    “In our nation, health is not a business but a selfless service,” underscored minister Mandaviya, underscoring the government’s unwavering commitment to serving its people.

    When questioned about the healthcare sector, the minister stressed the importance of international medical cooperation, particularly in the ongoing pandemic era. He highlighted the pivotal role played by digital technology in managing citizens’ health, with digital vaccine records contributing significantly to the efficient vaccination drive.

    Regarding India’s remarkable vaccine initiative during the COVID-19 crisis, minister Mandaviya pointed out that extensive vaccine research had been conducted, leading to India’s global vaccine distribution efforts under the “vaccine maitri” mission. The world has recognized India’s substantial contributions to global vaccination efforts, highlighting the nation’s dedication to international solidarity.

    In closing, minister Mansukh Mandaviya extended an invitation to all individuals to join hands with the Ayushman Bharat initiative, saying, “Come, be a part of our journey, support us, and help us scale new heights to ensure the success of the ‘Ayushmaan Bhav’ initiative.”

  • Network18 and DistroTV announce partnership to stream channels Live and free in India

    Network18 and DistroTV announce partnership to stream channels Live and free in India

    Mumbai: Network18, a major media conglomerate in India, and DistroTV, a leading independent, free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) platform, has announced a partnership, which will enable DistroTV users in India to stream Network18’s diverse portfolio of channels live and for free.

    In its initial phase, the partnership has seen the launch of Network18’s key channels such as CNN-News18, News18 India, CNBC TV18 and CNBC Awaaz on the platform. The collaboration is expected to be strengthened with additions of more Network18 channels from across its regional and digital portfolio in the near future.

    Speaking on the new partnership, Network18 head – video strategy & partnerships Pranav Bakshi said, “We are excited to join forces with DistroTV. This partnership aligns with our goal of providing a best-in-class user experience for our viewers across the country. The launch of our diverse set of channels on DistroTV is a testament to our commitment to innovation in the dynamic media landscape. We hope to reach maximum audiences on the platform.”

    “DistroTV is thrilled to partner with Network18, a media powerhouse that has revolutionized the Indian media landscape,” said DistroScale CEO & co-founder Navdeep Saini, parent company of DistroTV. “This partnership will bring a diverse array of quality content to our audiences in India, further solidifying DistroTV’s position as the best place to watch global entertainment, news, and sports.”

    DistroScale India, SEA, MENA & CEO Vikas Khanchandani added, “Our collaboration with Network18 aligns perfectly with our mission to cater to the diverse language preferences of our audiences in India. Network18 has been at the cutting edge of News and is amongst the largest news networks offering content across languages and markets. We will be bringing newer audiences to the news network as we expand our distribution across platforms.”

     

  • News18 India launches ad campaign to announce its dominance in Hindi news segment

    News18 India launches ad campaign to announce its dominance in Hindi news segment

    Mumbai: News18 India has launched a 360-degree media campaign to showcase its dominance in the Hindi news segment.

    The Hindi news channel released a page one ad in all editions of Economic Times to showcase its leadership in the genre. The campaign will also go live on digital and social media, with extensive visibility on trade media as well.

    The ad campaign launched in Tuesday’s Economic Times newspaper highlights News18’s comprehensive lead over Aaj Tak on TV as well as digital. The TV data shows that Aaj Tak has captured 8 Cr. AMA’s, much lower than News18 India, which garnered 8.88 cr. AMA’s. (Source: BARC | Metric: AMA’s | TG: NCCS All 15+ | Period: Wk 32’23, 24 Hours, All days | Market: HSM)

    On the digital front, News18 India received 27 per cent more video views on Facebook compared to Aaj Tak in July. (Source: Crowdtangle, July, 2023) Moreover, News18 India was also ahead of Aaj Tak by 12 per cent in terms of YouTube views last month. (Source: Databeings, Video Views, Stats as of August 5 for all videos uploaded in July, 2023)

    The targeted campaign with a hard-hitting, striking creative breaks the category code to drive home the message, and reiterates News18’s prominence in the Hindi news segment with a high impact.

    News18 India has established a steady leadership in Hindi news segment for over a year now. By capitalizing on engaged viewership, bolstered by top prime time anchors such as Kishore Ajwani, Amish Devgan, Aman Chopra and Prateek Trivedi, News18 India aims to grow its market share, elevate brand perception and forge a deeper advertiser connection on the back of its increasing visibility.
     

  • Barc Week 42-45’22: News18 India outperforms Hindi GECs in viewership chart

    Barc Week 42-45’22: News18 India outperforms Hindi GECs in viewership chart

    Mumbai: News18 India and CNN-News18 announced that they beat the competition in terms of audience. Both channels have continued to do better on the general entertainment channels (GEC) in terms of total reach and have maintained their dominance for several months.

    According to Barc data (market share per cent 24hrs TG:15+, HSM, Week 42-45’22, all day), TV9 Bharatvarsh stood second with 14 per cent market share, followed by News18 India with 15.4 per cent, Aaj Tak with 12.9 per cent, and India TV with 12.1 per cent.

    News18 India maintained its dominance in the much-coveted prime time slot as well. According to Barc’s recent listing, the channel garners a massive 16 per cent market share. Meanwhile, TV9 Bharatvarsh received 14.9 per cent, Aaj Tak received 13 per cent, and India TV received 11.9 per cent. When the Barc ratings resumed in March of this year, the channel opened at number one and has maintained that position ever since.

    Furthermore, CNN-News18 has a market share of 31.9 per cent, which is 19 per cent higher than Republic TV and 24 per cent higher than Times Now. Republic TV and Times Now retained their market shares of 28.2 per cent and 25.8 per cent, respectively.

    In prime time, CNN-News18 continued to outperform the opposition. In accordance with the Barc ratings (market share per cent 1800-2300, TG:15+ AB, India), Times Now came in second with a market share of 26.4 per cent, followed by Republic TV with 26.6 per cent, and CNN-News18 with 33.4 per cent for the week 42–45’22, which was Monday–Friday.

    News18 India has performed better than the top general entertainment channels in terms of reach as well. In comparison to Star Plus, which had a cumulative reach of 9.2 crore, and Sony SAB, & Zee TV, which had cumulative reaches of 8.07 crore and 7.9 crore, respectively, News18 India had a cumulative reach of 10.13 crore (Barc; HSM; TG: 2+; Cume reach ‘000; Avg; Wk 42-45’22).

    The News18 brands have been gaining strong traction even online, with their views rising rapidly across YouTube and other social media platforms.

    News18 Network has made significant investments in technology and editorial resources to ensure that its content and presentation remain unique to the audience and far ahead of the competition.

  • Advertisers have seen and understood the power of news, reveals Network18’s Sidharth Newatia

    Advertisers have seen and understood the power of news, reveals Network18’s Sidharth Newatia

    Mumbai: News18 India has outperformed its competition for the 15th week in a row, extending its dominance in the Hindi news segment in the country. According to Barc data (Market Share 24 hours TG:15+, India, WK 40 to 43′ 22, All Day), News18 India continues to lead with 15.7 per cent.

    This has also been noticed by advertisers, which will help the network with the growth in ad sales and eventually increase revenue. There is not only growth in viewership but also in overall advertising revenues, which is reflected in strong double-digit yield growth for News 18. Network18’s consolidated revenue increased 12 per cent year on year to Rs 1,549 crore this year.

    Network18 Hindi cluster national revenue head Sidharth Newatia spoke with IndianTelevision.com about the cluster’s growth, strategies, and challenges. “We will continue to press that business lever going forward. We have taken a conscious decision to back our content more and have thus been very cautious about the ad inventories that we run. We want to provide our advertisers with a clutter-free environment to ensure their marketing objectives are met,” he expressed.

    He believes that the North, West, and South are the largest markets, with the North region accounting for the highest advertising spend for the news genre.

    The pandemic has had a positive effect on ad sales in the news genre. The importance placed on having news as part of the media plans has increased over the past two years.

    “Advertisers have seen and understood the power of news in these times and have used the medium to further their communications. There was a brief period during a pandemic when the news genre had a higher reach than some of the other genres. So, all in all, business has been good in these pandemic times,” he said.

    News 18 is consistently working on increasing the penetration of news genre advertisers in tier I and tier II cities and showcasing to them the power of news and the importance of building their brands through it.

    He elucidated, “The contextual and relevant nature of the news has already made the genre a must-have in all the media plans. Growing the advertiser base has been the key pillar of growth for us, and we will keep on pushing this metric hard.”

    While speaking about challenges to getting advertisements, Newatia expressed that the challenges are not in terms of advertisers but getting the volumes up to earlier levels.

    “The television industry has not lost advertisers; in fact, it has gained them. The challenge is that the advertising spend per advertiser has gone down due to pressure on bottom lines because of rising input costs. Thus, clients have reduced their discretionary spending. Having said that, as a network, we are in an enviable position with the three national channels at the top of the pyramid. We have the number one Hindi general news channel in News18 India, the number one English general news channel in CNN News 18, and the incomparable number one English business channel in CNBC TV18,” he affirmed.

    This year, one of the strategies for Network 18 is to build an enviable intellectual property lineup that will be relevant, best in class, and second to none.

    Newatia stated, “The news genre is such that it has the power to bring about societal change. All programming/content is geared towards that objective only. We do shows like Rising India on a national level as well as on the state level with the political and social diaspora to discuss the way forward.”

    Recently, News18 India held a large event called Amrit Ratna, which honoured some very prominent Indians for their contributions to the country. All these things not only add shine to their brand but also give a 360-degree one-stop solution to advertisers.

  • Barc Wk 39 – Wk 42: News18 India maintains pole position in news genre

    Barc Wk 39 – Wk 42: News18 India maintains pole position in news genre

    Mumbai: News18 India has strengthened its leadership in the field. According to the most current Barc data for Wk 39 to 42, Aaj Tak, which has slipped to the fourth spot in the viewership statistics, is 29 per cent behind the channel.

    According to Barc data (market share per cent 24 hrs TG:15+, India, Wk 39-42’22, All Day), News18 India accounts for 15.9  per cent, followed by TV9 Bharatvarsh at 13.6 per cent, India TV and Aaj Tak both accounting for 12.3  per cent each.

    According to Barc data (market share per cent, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., TG:15+ HSM, Wk 39-42, All days), News18 India maintained its dominant position in the highly sought-after prime time slot, capturing a staggering 16.5 per cent market share. TV9 Bharatvarsh managed 14.8 per cent of the market, while India TV, Republic Bharat, and Aaj Tak each maintained a 12.3 per cent share.

    The most prestigious time slot in the national Hindi news genre, between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., has also been maintained by News18 India, where Kishore Ajwani’s show tops Rajat Sharma’s show on India TV and Sudhir Chaudhary’s show on Aaj Tak.

    While News18 India dominated the news segment with 18.7 per cent market share, India TV managed 16.2 per cent, followed by Republic Bharat with 15 per cent and Aaj Tak with 13.6 per cent, respectively, as per Barc data (market share per cent, 2100-2200 hrs, TG:15+ HSM, week 39-42’22, Mon-Fri).

    According to the weekly report, News18 India has been outperforming the top general entertainment channels (GEC) in terms of reach.

    The channel claims that News18 brands have been gaining strong traction even online, with their views rising rapidly across YouTube and other social media platforms.

    To stay well ahead of the competition and maintain its distinctively tailored content for the audience, News18 has made significant investments in technology and editorial resources.