Network18 reports 330 million users and 15 billion YouTube views

Network18 Media & Investments Limited reported 330 million monthly digital users in September 2026 and more than 15 billion YouTube video views in Q2 FY2026-27. Network18 said YouTube views increased 17% year on year and were about twice those of its nearest competitor, while its social footprint exceeded 470 million followers.

How large is Network18's digital news audience?

Network18 reached 330 million monthly digital news and information users in September 2026, representing 68% reach in the region. The measure includes social platforms and covers a portfolio that includes Moneycontrol, News18, Firstpost and CNBC-TV18.

Network18 recorded more than 15 billion YouTube video views during Q2 FY2026-27, up 17% year on year. It said this was about twice the view count of its nearest competitor for July to September 2026, while combined YouTube and Facebook views rose 30% year on year.

The 330 million figure measures monthly digital population including social platforms, whereas the 15 billion measure counts video views over one quarter. Network18 did not disclose a comparable prior-year monthly-user figure, but it did disclose growth in social video consumption across YouTube and Facebook.

Which Network18 brands led YouTube and connected television?

Network18 said News18 India, CNN-News18, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz retained first positions in their respective YouTube categories throughout Q2 FY2026-27. It also said eight regional brands led their respective markets, although it did not disclose individual channel view counts.

Connected television, or CTV, engagement increased 27% year on year during the quarter. Network18 said multiple channels had genre-leading average concurrent viewers in prime time, and identified CTV as an emerging revenue stream with robust growth without disclosing revenue or viewer totals.

Television ratings data remained suspended during the period. Network18 said news ratings had been paused for more than six months after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed the Broadcast Audience Research Council, or BARC, to stop weekly news-channel data in early March 2026, while non-news ratings were suspended in early July over BARC's licence renewal.

Before the suspension, Network18 reported an all-India news viewership share of 13.8% for weeks 01 to 08 of 2026. Its 20-channel television portfolio reached 230 million people a month, which it said was 35% above the nearest competitor, but those figures are a pre-suspension benchmark rather than current ratings data.

How is Moneycontrol expanding its financial products?

Moneycontrol Pro had more than 1 million users in Q2 FY2026-27, according to Network18. The company said Moneycontrol's time spent and page views were three times those of the nearest competitor, a separate engagement comparison from the group's YouTube-view data.

Network18 introduced Corp Lens, which provides access to financials of unlisted companies, and Stock Note, which enables users to journal observations on a stock page. It said secured and unsecured lending through Moneycontrol's fintech business grew strongly, attributing the momentum to expanded partnerships, a stronger conversion funnel and improved organic acquisition.

News18.com increased average session duration by 7% in the quarter, while Local18's hyperlocal coverage contributed nearly one-quarter of overall traffic. The platform launched Commonwealth and Asian Games 2026 coverage, autoplay video previews and artificial-intelligence-powered frequently asked questions, topic timelines and data visualisations.

What does Firstpost contribute to Network18's reach?

Firstpost's YouTube subscriber count was nearing 10 million in Q2 FY2026-27, while its social ecosystem generated more than 700 million views and had 21.5 million subscribers. Network18 said Firstpost ranked second globally in live news and fourth in total YouTube views, without disclosing the underlying absolute view count.

Firstpost added The Revolutionary, a YouTube series on historical changemakers, and Flaunt, an editorial section covering travel, automobiles, watches, lifestyle and home interiors. These content additions sit alongside Moneycontrol's finance coverage and News18.com's general and local news products within Network18's digital portfolio.

Network18 reported consolidated operating revenue of Rs 545 crore for Q2 FY2026-27, up 9.4% year on year, while operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation were Rs 19 crore against a Rs 50 lakh loss a year earlier. The company said revenue growth was primarily driven by its content-studio subsidiary as television-news advertising inventory consumption declined by about 13% year on year.

Conclusion

Network18's update combines scale in monthly digital reach, social followers and video distribution: 330 million monthly users, more than 470 million social followers and more than 15 billion quarterly YouTube views. The company also reported comparative engagement measures, including YouTube views at about twice the nearest competitor's level and Moneycontrol time spent and page views at three times the nearest competitor's level.

The next disclosures to watch are whether Corp Lens, Stock Note, fintech partnerships, News18.com product changes and Firstpost programming produce further quantified engagement, subscriber or revenue measures. Television comparisons will also remain limited until the BARC licence-renewal matter is resolved and ratings publication resumes.