Is News18 Left-Wing or Right-Wing? Political Bias Explained
News18 Overview and Political Bias
News18 is often characterized by critics as maintaining a pro-government editorial stance. Observers frequently highlight its use of nationalistic rhetoric and sensationalist debate formats. While proponents praise its extensive regional reach, media watchdogs have occasionally flagged concerns regarding the communal framing of certain news narratives and a perceived lack of critical scrutiny toward state policies.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Center Right |
| Estimated number of readers | 210,000,000 |
| Israel support | Generally Pro-Israel |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | High |
| Target Audience | Mass market |
News18 History
Launched in 2005 as CNN-IBN, a collaboration between TV18 and Global Broadcast News, the channel quickly became a major player in Indian English news. Following its acquisition by Reliance Industries in 2014, the network underwent significant rebranding and expanded extensively into regional languages, evolving into the multi-platform News18 Network seen today.
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Who owns News18?
News18 is operated by Network18 Media & Investments Limited, a subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited, chaired by Mukesh Ambani. The outlet is funded through advertising revenue, subscriptions, and corporate backing, raising frequent discussions among analysts regarding the impact of industrial ownership on journalistic independence and media plurality.