Mumbai: TV news viewership in India reached unprecedented levels during the week of Operation Sindoor, as per data released by BARC India. Conducted by the Indian Armed Forces between 3rd and 9th May (Week 18), the operation captivated the nation, prompting a historic surge in news consumption across television platforms.
BARC India reported that 507 million viewers tuned into news channels during the week, making it the highest viewership week for Hindi News since 2022. On the three most critical days — 7th, 8th, and 9th May — the News genre accounted for 16% of total TV viewership, up sharply from the usual 6%.
Key Highlights:
*GRPs for Hindi News hit 254 in Week 18, surpassing major recent events like the 2024 Lok Sabha election results (235 GRPs) and Ram Temple consecration (185 GRPs).
*Average Time Spent (ATS) on Hindi News reached 60 minutes, a 67% increase compared to pre-Pahalgam levels.
*The daily tune-ins more than doubled, surging from 73 million to 142 million (HSM 2+).
*Hindi News viewership share jumped from 3% to 13% during the operation’s key days, and from 4% to 15% among HSM 15+ viewers.
Significant spikes were observed during key Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) briefings:
An additional 65 million new viewers — who had not tuned into Hindi News in the prior month — sampled the genre during Week 18, underscoring the magnetic impact of high-stakes national developments on television consumption.
BARC India’s data reaffirms the enduring strength of TV as a trusted source of news, especially in times of national importance.
