News18 Network dominates election coverage, surpasses IPL finale viewership

As India awaited the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, millions tuned in to news channels for real-time updates and analysis. News18 Network emerged as the clear frontrunner, drawing in a larger audience than even the 2024 IPL finale, according to data released by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC).

The high-stakes general elections have historically captivated the nation, with citizens eager to follow every twist and turn in the race for political power. This year was no different, as News18 Network, leveraging its multi-lingual reach across 20 channels, captured the attention of a staggering 16.2 crore viewers on Counting Day. This figure eclipsed the viewership of the IPL finale, which drew in 10.9 crore viewers across 13 Star Sports channels.

Within the English news segment, CNN-News18 took a commanding lead, securing a 41.1 percent market share on Counting Day. This dwarfed the viewership of competitors like Republic TV (24 percent market share) and Times Now (21.2 percent market share).  The channel's comprehensive coverage, anchored by prominent journalists, provided viewers with up-to-the-minute results, expert commentary, and on-the-ground reporting from key constituencies.

News18 India, the network's Hindi language channel, mirrored this success, reaching 7.69 crore viewers on Counting Day. The channel outpaced competitors like Aaj Tak, solidifying its position as a dominant force in Hindi news broadcasting. This dominance extended throughout the election week, with News18 India reaching a cumulative audience of 11.15 crore viewers.