CNN-News18 has solidified its position as India’s leading destination for election news, achieving an undisputed market leadership during the crucial counting hours of the Bihar election results. The channel’s coverage on November 14, 2025, delivered record viewership, surpassing the combined market share of its three major competitors: Times Now, NDTV 24×7, and Republic TV.
According to data from BARC India, CNN-News18 captured a commanding 46.8% market share during the counting period (07:00–12:00 hrs) on the day of the Bihar election results.
- This dominant figure was greater than the combined market share of its three major rivals, which together registered 44.2%.
- The individual breakdown showed Times Now and NDTV 24×7 each at 16.9%, with Republic TV trailing at 10.4%.
- This decisive lead affirmed the channel’s high-impact print campaign slogan: “When Bihar Was Counting Votes, India Was Counting on CNN-News18.”
The channel attributed its success to its special election programming designed for speed, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
The coverage was spearheaded by a seasoned editorial team including Zakka Jacob, Anand Narasimhan, Rahul Shivshankar, and Shivani Gupta, backed by an extensive on-ground reporting network across Bihar.
Accessible Storytelling: The broadcast prioritized clarity and precision, utilizing dynamic graphics, detailed explainers, sharp data breakdowns, and clear visual storytelling to make complex electoral trends easy for viewers to understand.
This commitment to fast, factual, and first-in information reinforced CNN-News18’s reputation as India’s most trusted source for news during high-stakes national events like Counting Day. The overwhelming viewership lead demonstrates that the channel remains the preferred choice for reliable, impactful election coverage nationwide.
Key Highlights:
- CNN-News18 captured a massive 46.8% market share during the Bihar election counting hours (07:00–12:00 hrs on 14 November 2025), securing an undisputed leadership position.
- The channel’s market share surpassed the combined share (44.2%) of its three major rivals: Times Now (16.9%), NDTV 24×7 (16.9%), and Republic TV (10.4%).
- The success is attributed to special election programming that delivered fastest, most accurate, and comprehensive updates, utilizing dynamic graphics and a large editorial and on-ground reporting team.
- The record performance reaffirms the network’s status as India’s most trusted destination for high-stakes election news and impactful coverage.