BARC Wk 14: Aaj Tak & Republic TV continue to lead, but News viewership sees dip

The News genre had another week of strong performance during the lockdown period in Week 14. As per the 4^th edition of BARC-Nielsen’s Insights series assessing the impact of COVID-19 on TV consumption & Smartphone Usage, the News genre recorded a growth of 219 per cent in Week 14. This was a drop from the 251 per cent growth recorded in the 3^rd edition of the series for Week 13. In Week 11, News clocked an all-time high growth of 298 per cent. 

Hindi News 

As per BARC data for Week 14 (Saturday, 4th April 2020 to Friday, 10th April 2020), Aaj Tak continues to lead the Hindi News genre, garnering a gross viewership of 372,688(000) [HSM (U+R) : NCCS All : 15+ Individuals] and a market share of 14.90 per cent. ABP News is placed second with a gross viewership of 295,264(000) and a market share of 11.81 per cent, followed by India TV in the third spot with 283,103(000) and 11.32 per cent market share, Republic Bharat in the fourth spot with 272,602(000) and 10.90 per cent market share, and Zee News in the fifth spot with 270,066(000) and 10.80 per cent market share. 

In terms of cumulative reach, Aaj Tak leads the Hindi language space ahead of Hindi Movies and Hindi GECs. The channel recorded a cumulative reach of 222,026(000), thus making Aaj Tak the No.1 TV channel for consecutive 3 weeks (Weeks 12, 13 and 14). 

ABP News is placed second among News channels with cumulative reach of 200,765(000), while Republic Bharat is placed third among News channels with cumulative reach of 187,807(000). 

Republic Bharat’s prime time debate shows – ‘Mahabharat’ and ‘Poochat Hai Bharat’ – had the highest viewership in Week 14 in the 6-8 pm time band [BARC | Target Group:- NCCS ABC M 15+ |  Market:- HSM | Days:- Weekdays | Week:- 14'20 |Time:- 1800-2000], taking the channel’s market share to 15.3 per cent. However, Aaj Tak was snapping at its heels with its market share a tad lower at 15.2 per cent. 

English News 

In the English News genre, Republic TV maintained its hold over the numero uno position, garnering a gross viewership of 1,896(000) in Week 14. Times Now was placed at No. 2 with a gross viewership of 922(000), followed by CNN News18 in the third spot with 917(000), India Today Television at No. 4 with a gross viewership of 866(000), and WION at No. 5 with a gross viewership of 627(000). [All India (U+R) : NCCS AB : Males 22+ Individuals] 

Across All Time Bands, Republic TV is way ahead of its competitors garnering a market share of 38.6 per cent in Week 14 [NCCS AB M 22+ | India | Market Share (%)]. Times Now’s share is at 18.8 per cent; CNN IBN18’s share is at 18.7 per cent; India Today Television’s share is at 17.6 per cent; and NDTV 24x7’s share is at 5.7 per cent. 

Republic TV has also asserted its dominance in the Super Prime Time band of 9-11 pm, garnering a market share of 63.4 per cent [NCCS AB M 22+ | India | Weekdays | Market Share (%)]. CNN New18’s market share is at 12.6 per cent; Times Now’s market share is at 10.5 per cent; India Today Television’s share is at 9.6 per cent; and NDTV 24x7’s market share is at 3.4 per cent.