Multiple stings, investigative and impact stories has seen the channel create anichefor itself in the highly competitive Hindi news Genre, has fueled growth in viewership
With an aim to challenge the status quo, News18 India, the Hindi general news channel from Network18, was re-launched in November 2016 along with a revamp of its programming line-up. In line with its new tagline ‘Danke Ki Chot Par’, the channel has consistently broken several exclusive stories on a variety of pressing and relevant issues which has forced the authorities to take stock of the situation and promise action.
Over the past few months, News18 India has telecast numerous special investigative reports and stories. While ‘Operation Namak Haraam’ exposed top Pakistani artists living in India involved in large scale black money transactions, ‘Surgical Strikes ka Saboot’ had a police officer in PoK admitting that strikes were carried out by the Indian Army in September 2016. With a sting operation on UP police, the channel exposed the deep rooted corruption within the state police even after multiple steps were taken by the new BJP government in a bid to make the state corruption free. Following the telecast of the story, Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh Police, Sulkhan Singh took cognizance of the issue and assured that action will be taken against the culprits.Similarly, State Health Minister of Uttar Pradesh launched a probe and suspended two doctors after News18 India exposed malpractises by the doctors in the government hospitals in the state.
The channel has grown exponentially since its re-launch as is evident from the exponential increase in the channel’s ratings and viewership that has disrupted the pecking order of the Hindi news television industry. A testimony to the strong content is the fact that several of our prime time shows Aar Paar, Hum toh Poochenge and Sau Baat Ki Ek Baatare the top in theirrespective slots.