MUMBAI: In the noisy, over-caffeinated newsroom that is Indian Youtube, News18 India just walked in wearing aviators and dropped a mic. The Hindi news juggernaut smashed viewership records this March with 845 million views, claiming the crown as the most-watched channel in the news & politics category — not just in India, but globally.
That’s right, globally.
Not bad for a channel that also manages to look dramatic during rainfall updates.
According to Playboard stats, News18 India stayed a staggering 43 per cent ahead of its rival, which managed 589.4 million views.
It wasn’t even close.
At this point, News18 could file a restraining order against second place.
This viewership feat reinforces the channel’s iron grip on digital dominance and reflects a dual-platform loyalty that would make most marketers swoon. It’s not just about Youtube either. As per BARC data (Wk 08'23-07'25), News18 India has been the most-watched Hindi news channel on television for two straight years. Consistency, thy name is Kishore Ajwani... and company.
"This milestone reflects News18 India's commitment to delivering impactful journalism at scale, meeting audiences where they are, and setting new benchmarks in the digital news landscape," the network stated. Viewers have stuck around for the channel’s power-packed programming and not just the breathless countdowns.
Credit for the digital fireworks goes to a high-octane anchor line-up that includes Kishore Ajwani, Amish Devgan, Rubika Liyaquat, Prateek Trivedi, and Aman Chopra. Their collective ability to turn news into theatre – with facts, mind you – has clearly paid off. And with a nationwide reporting network feeding them updates faster than social media can trend a hashtag, real-time coverage remains the channel’s bread and butter.
News18 India’s numbers didn’t just spike during slow news days either. The Delhi polls, counting days, and other high-octane political events were all met with newsroom adrenaline and viewer loyalty. As India continues its love affair with digital content, News18 India appears to be the main character in this ongoing rom-com of facts and ratings.
