Republic TV vs Times Now: The ratings war continues

If tensions between India and China are anything that worries you, there is another war already brewing on your television sets. As all Thursdays go, it has become a routine for news channels to indulge in some chest-beating and claim the “No. 1” spot. But this time, as the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) published the weekly data, the swagger of two English news channels —Republic TV and Times Now— moved a notch higher. 

Republic TV has been dominating the ratings table from when it was launched in May, pushing Times Now to the second spot. But that doesn’t deter Times Now from taking jibes at Republic TV and claim the top spot. “The Republic is hooked to Times Now”, “The Republic trusts Times Now”, and “India rejects placard journalism” is how the channel is reminding its viewers that Times Now is “India’s No.1 news brand”. Well, we’d like to claim some credit for the nomenclature.

While Republic TV is the overall winner in the ratings game, Times Now is focusing on the demographics they lead in (read here to know how channels claim top spots).

Though Times Now’s taunts and insults are pretty much straightforward, Republic TV’s jibe has left us confused. But mind you, it resonates Arnab Goswami’s charm.

As for BARC’s official data, these are the latest ratings published by them.