New Delhi: India TV has officially announced a strategic change in its flagship prime-time news analysis programme, Aaj Ki Baat with Rajat Sharma. Effective June 15, 2026, the widely followed show will be aired at 8:30 PM.
Aaj Ki Baat has established itself as one of the nation’s most credible and widely viewed news programmes in the evening prime-time slot. The show is known for its sharp editorial perspective backed by fact-based analysis.
The decision to shift the broadcast timing comes at a time when the programme’s reach continues to dominate national viewership statistics. According to BARC India (2+ India) data, Aaj Ki Baat commands a lifetime reach of over 440 million viewers, solidifying its position as one of the country’s most influential and watched news programmes. In 2025 alone, the show maintained strong momentum, recording an average of 38 million daily viewing minutes.
This massive and highly engaged audience base makes Aaj Ki Baat an exceptionally premium daily news property for advertisers. The show’s core viewership represents a mature and affluent demographic, with 73% of its audience belonging to the 31+ age group and 57% coming from premium NCCS A households.
Driving this unparalleled viewer loyalty is Rajat Sharma himself, a rare and enduring witness to India’s democratic evolution. Over the course of his distinguished career, Rajat Sharma has covered leadership eras spanning from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has witnessed more than 150 national and state elections. Beyond Aaj Ki Baat, his authoritative voice anchors Aap Ki Adalat—India’s longest-running television interview show. His legacy of impactful journalism is further reflected in his substantial digital following of over 11.5 million on X and 2.6 million on Facebook.
This strategic transition to the 8:30 PM slot reinforces India TV’s commitment to anchoring the evening news cycle with definitive and trusted journalism. By aligning one of India’s most influential news properties with an earlier prime-time window, the network ensures that viewers can access authoritative insights and contextual analysis exactly when it matters most, exclusively on India TV.
