Mumbai: Network18, a media conglomerate with the most extensive omni-channel news network, has solidified its leadership in the digital space by reaching a remarkable milestone of over 325 million followers as of September 2024. This achievement positions Network18 as the largest news network in India by follower base, showcasing its influence across platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Snapchat, and WhatsApp.
As a leader in digital news distribution, Network18 operates over 30 channels delivering content in English, Hindi, and more than 13 regional languages. Its extensive reach includes well-known brands like CNN-News18, CNBC-TV18, News18 India, Firstpost, and the News18 Regional cluster.
Network18’s performance on YouTube has been particularly impressive, garnering 19 billion views in the first half of this year—an increase from 11.5 billion views during the same period last year. The audience consumed 822 million hours of content, a significant rise from 498 million hours previously. Notably, twelve of its YouTube channels currently hold the number one position in their respective categories, further solidifying its status as the leading news network on the platform.
Additionally, the network’s robust presence on WhatsApp Channels has fueled its growth, amassing over 47 million followers and contributing to its expanding digital footprint. A strong focus on regional news has also been central to Network18’s digital success, achieving over 11 billion views in regional content during H1. With 120+ million followers across regional platforms, Network18 delivers hyper-local content in various South and Northeastern Indian languages, catering to diverse linguistic communities and broadening its audience reach.
Network18’s appeal to new audiences remains unmatched, having added 47 million new followers in recent months. News18 Bangla has nearly reached 2 billion views, while News18 Odia and News18 Punjab have both surpassed the 1 billion view milestone, underscoring the network’s success in regional markets.
Pranav Bakshi, Head – Partnerships and Digital Video Strategy at Network18, highlighted the significance of this achievement: “We’ve not only established the largest social media presence in India but also achieved remarkable growth on Connected TV, with a threefold increase. Our connected TV audience has doubled in the last 6 months, and we continue to expand our footprint on CTV & FAST networks. We are the only news network with such vast digital reach. No competitor matches our scale or growth trajectory. Our success is a result of our commitment to providing high-quality, tailored, and engaging content across all screens—mobile, desktop, and TV.”
Network18’s digital expansion also extends beyond Indian borders, with 20% of its audience coming from international markets, highlighting the network’s growing global influence. This exceptional growth across platforms and languages underscores Network18’s dedication to creating regionally and culturally relevant content, solidifying its position as a leader in the evolving digital news industry.
