Headlines Today & Times Now evenly placed with 25.90 % market share

The television industry with multiple genres and each of them cluttered with numerous channels has become a virtual battleground over the years now where the top three of four are fighting for a clear market leadership. The space in the English news channels genre is no different. With a huge viewership across the metros and Tier II and Tier III cities being English speaking population, this space has grown like anything in recent time. The big brands that cater to this English news genre have witnessed varying market shares over a long period of time. While the share of Times Now had always been higher in the past, it now has a challenger in the form of Headlines Today, which for the first time has caught up with Times Now and the two channels in the Week 13 of 2013 now are ranked on par with equal share of 25.90 per cent as per a recent TAM date. Headlines Today from the India Today group has steadily inched its way to become the leading English News channel with a 25.90 per cent market share along with Times Now.

In a genre where news channels are trying to outdo each other by presenting every news as breaking news and claiming credit for it for days afterwards, Headlines Today is different. From the very beginning instead of being a part of the rat race it has focused on specifics to the extent that viewers do not find viewing it a torture, gossip or make believe stories. On the contrary Headlines Today is a breath of fresh air every early morning, providing news that satiates your urge for news, information and in depth analysis of the incidents that rocked the nation, those that will affect your life. No wonder the journey of Headlines Today has been one of a gradual climb and the data speaks for itself.

The English news genre has been a dynamic space since week 1, 2012.  The Year 2013 has been even more exciting with fortunes of NDTV 24X7 post digitization. Headlines Today after a long decade of trailing in the genre had embarked on a new strategic plan last year and has suddenly emerged as one of the leading English news channel giving competition to the likes of NDTV 24X7, Times Now and CNN-IBN. The data speaks for it. The data reveals that NDTV has not been able to consistently maintain its market share, while CNN-IBN has been on a steady decline since Week1. Market share of CNN IBN declined from over 40 per cent at the start of 2012 to less than 20 per cnt in latest week. Times Now snatched the leadership away from CNN-IBN as early as March/April 2012. It showed a promising start but has been consistently losing its market share despite being at the top on most weeks till the current week 13 of 2013. Headlines Today has been gradually growing its market share since the beginning of the year. HLT had a share of barely 8-10 per cent at the beginning of 2012 but has risen to be at the no.1 spot this week. In Wk’13’13- Headlines Today got 24 programs in Top 100 Programs list.

It is communicated that the channel has become India’s fastest growing news channel through its initiative to make the common man’s voice be heard. The initiative coded “Right to Be Heard” gives the common man a platform to speak by uploading their videos, comments & issues that they want to be raised on the channel’s website www.righttobeheard.in. There is also a hot line number for the same where they can call and record their message for their team to get in touch with them to investigate their issues. This allows the common man of the country to reach out, whose tireless efforts over many years have still not yielded results and he continues to be ignored by the authorities in the system. It encourages viewers to come out and voice their concerns. “Right to be Heard” campaign has closed the reach gap with others catapulting the channel to no.2 in week 11 and joint no.1 in week 13.

Headlines Today, has used this show with an aim to bring a change in society and transform people’s lives. The Delhi uproar showed that people have become more self-aware and are voicing their displeasure. In a country where traditionally we have been a largely ‘voiceless’ population that has to ‘make do’ with whatever is decided by the agents in power, slowly things are changing – and people are ensuring their voices are being heard. The channel also started RTH Town hall show- a weekly talk show that provides a platform for the public to debate the issues that concerns them the most with the people in authority on the chair to answer all their concerns. In Time band 2100-2200 hrs (SAT) - Headlines today is at the top where the show RTH Town Hall is aired. The show has shown up to a market share of 80%. This initiative of Headlines Today has gathered accolades besides dominating ratings in the English news Genre.

Keeping the viewer at the center while covering News, Headlines Today’s content has consistently proven to have an impact. It has raised the bar in news reporting by taking up people’s causes and helping bring change in society. Headlines Today continues to keep its promise of delivering unbiased, exclusive content telling stories without fear or favour. Headlines Today's unprejudiced investigations like that of the Robert Vadra Land Files, the Killing of innocent Tamils in Lanka, the Farm Loan Waiver scam, has gained recognition from peers and has fulfilled the objective of keeping "YOU MATTER" at the heart of their stories. The channel emerged on top during breaking news events like the Hyderabad blasts and is the undisputed choice of viewers when it matters most, such as of the coverage on Republic Day or prime time coverage of the Union Budget…. Indeed a respite of differentiation in a rat race for Breaking News