Best News Channels in India 2018 : A News Hungry Country

In a world that’s moving so fast, there’s something happening in every corner almost every minute. And it’s necessary for any person to be updated and abreast with the information about what’s going on around him. Newspapers and news channels are the primary means of information to most people. With television sets now in every household, news channels that provide fast, easy access to current affairs are a hit among people.

Many households dedicate hours to news channels so they can get every information on every issue. News channels have upped their game and introduced the variety of programs ranging from fast headline news to full coverage of worldwide news in a time of half-an-hour. News channels are constantly competing to make the news reach people faster and be the first ones to provide the news to viewers. With live talk shows, political debates, and some additional lifestyle, Bollywood-related news programs, all the news channels are trying to garner attention from people of all age groups.

To be the trusted and sought-after sources of fast news, most news channels have adopted questionable forms of journalism. But as long as they still provide reliable news to viewers, they’ll continue to be the leading news channels. Here’s a list of the top 10 best and most watched news channels in India 2018.

10. Zee News

Zee Media Corporation’s news channel Zee News ranks tenth on this list. The Hindi news channel founded in 1999 has made its way to being one of the best news channels in the country. Headquartered in Noida, this news channel has Subhash Chandra as its Chairman and notable personality Sudhir Choudhary as CEO. The channel is known to have generated a revenue of 551 crores in the year 2015. Its popularity has only been on the rise since then. Despite a few scandalous allegations, the news has gained a TRP rating of about 138,135. For Hindi news viewers, Zee News would make a good choice.

9. NDTV India

Owned by New Delhi Television Ltd., NDTV India ranks ninth on our list. Conceptualized by Prannoy Roy and his wife Radhika Roy, the Hindi news channel went on to gain wide popularity among the masses. With people like Ravish Kumar associated with the channel, the channel has garnered much attention in recent years. The channel received flak and a blackout for a day because of its coverage of the Pathankot attack. But later on, went on to redeem its old position. With a TRP rating of around 0.7 to 0.8, NDTV India is deemed as one of the news channels that cater to the less sensationalized news.

8. BBC World News

BBC’s very own international and current affairs English news channel, BBC World News ranks eighth on the list. The channel is known to have over 76 million viewers worldwide. The news channel’s correspondents and reporters are large in number, and its international bureau is known to be the largest among news channels. Owned by BBC Global News Ltd., the funding for this channel is attributed to the subscriptions and advertising. With different kinds of shows on lifestyle, travel and news bulletins itself, the channel has garnered the attention of the affluent in the country. With weekly impression sum of 136,000, the news channel is only expanding its base. This news channel is surely a recommended one if you want massive, good coverage of world news.

7. India Tv

The Hindi news channel India TV ranks seventh on our list. Based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, this news channel was the brainchild of renowned personality Rajat Sharma and his wife, Ritu Dhawan. India Tv has received investment from Fuse+ Media which has over $1.5 billion assets under management. With big term investments from the likes of Mukesh Ambani, this channel has taken over the good television ratings for a while now. Shows like Rajat Sharma’s signature Aap Ki Adaalat are the primary reasons for its huge success. With a TRP rating of 133,276, the channel continues to be one the most sought-after Hindi news channels.

6. CNN News 18

CNN-News 18, originally known as CNN-IBN ranks sixth on our list. Owned by Network 18, in May 2014, the Reliance group of industries announced taking over the network, which has been proclaimed as “one of the biggest deal in the Indian media space”. The English news channel with shows like India at 9 that have great TRP ratings, and popular names like Rajdeep Sardesai working as the Editor-in-Chief of the IBN network, has gained attention from the masses. It’s one of the most trusted news channels in the country. With a rating of 354,000, the network, even after its merger, continues to rule the charts as one of the top three English news channels.

5. ABP News

The popular Hindi news channel ABP News ranks fifth on our list for the best news channels. Owned by the ABP Group, ABP News was launched back in 1998 as STAR News before the group took over the channel in 2012. With notable personalities like Dibang and Neha Pant associated with the channel, ABP news is the second most popular Hindi channel in India. It has trusted viewers all over the country and provides good, fast news catering to the people. With a rating of about 115,506, ABP News will continue its rule as one of the leading news channels in the country.

4. NDTV 24X7

Arguably one of the most popular English news channels in the country, NDTV 24×7 ranks fourth on our list. Owned by NDTV, the channel caters to its audience with fast and wide current affairs coverage. It holds on to its slogan “Experience. Truth first.”. It has won the Best News Channel Award once at the Asian Television Awards and twice at the ITA Awards. With personalities like Burkha Dutt, until recently being associated with the channel, shows as We The People and The Buck Stops Here garnered a lot of attention among people of all age groups. Notable people like Prannoy Roy and Vikram Chandra are closely associated with the channel. A BARC rating of 338,000 makes it the third most sought-after English news channel in the country.

3. Aaj Tak

The premium Hindi news channel of the country, Aaj Tak ranks third on our list. The 24-hour news channel is owned by the TV Today Network. Founded by Surendra Pratap Singh who is also a news anchor on the channel and managed by Aroon Purie, this news channel with its good content has found its trust in its viewers. Known to cater to all kinds of news for viewers in a fast and efficient manner, the channel enjoys a good follower base. With a BARC rating of 129150, Aaj Tak continues to lead as India’s #1 Hindi news channel.

2. India Today

The 24-hour English news channel, India Today ranks as the second-best news channel in India. Owned by the TV Today Network, the channel was formerly known as Headlines Today. It has been always known to have sensational coverage of the news, like other popular news channels in the country. And this is what is attributed to its widespread success and big numbers. With a BARC rating of 371,000, India Today continues to strongly hold on to its position as the second best English news channel in the country, preferred by a huge audience.

1. Times Now

Without a doubt, the leading news channel in India Now. One of the most popular and common household name in the country, the English news channel has for years now, enjoyed widespread success. Owned by The Times Group, the channel is headquartered in Mumbai. The channel is known for its highly sensationalized news and its controversial lawsuits.

Part of its success is credited to its star and leading news anchors. With their debates on prime time shows, known for their loud and strong opinions, they took down any opponent, politicians, and celebrities, alike. This led the show and Times Now to be one of the most watched news channels on Indian television. With a vast viewer rating of over 606,000, India Today clinches the highest rung of the ladder and continues to rule among viewers.

With the internet being the newest source of latest news and slowly gaining more popularity, news channels have to be on their toes constantly. Alternate media is getting widespread acclaim because it refrains from some of the sensationalized news that primary news sources are falling into. That’s why to stay in the game; news channels are now resorting to being more trustworthy sources of information. News channels and viewers should both double-check any news that comes their way. Yellow journalism and spreading of false facts should never be done. Viewers these days are smart enough to make good choices and opt for networks that will give them news that’s true and efficient. On that concluding note, let’s hope for better news all over. Stay alert. Stay safe. Stay true.