India witnessed an unprecedented surge in news consumption during ‘Operation Sindoor’, a significant military operation carried out by the Indian Armed Forces between May 3 and 9. According to BARC India’s Week 18 data, news viewership soared to a staggering 507 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched weeks in recent memory.

The BARC report reveals that ‘Operation Sindoor’ captivated the entire nation, with television becoming the primary platform for real-time updates and coverage. During the three critical days May 7th to 9th the news genre peaked at 16 percent of total TV viewership, compared to the usual 6 percent, signaling a dramatic shift in audience engagement.

This sharp uptick confirms once again that when a moment of national significance unfolds, television remains the go-to source for trustworthy information.

In terms of performance metrics, Hindi News hit a record high of 254 GRPs in Week 18, surpassing even the viewership generated during the 2024 Lok Sabha Election Results (235 GRPs) and the 2024 Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony (185 GRPs). This marks Week 18 of 2025 as the highest-performing week for Hindi News since BARC resumed reporting with its current set of channels in 2022.

Additionally, Hindi News clocked the highest Average Time Spent (ATS) of 60 minutes, registering a massive 67 percent increase compared to pre-Pahalgam weeks. The genre’s share surged from 3 percent to 13 percent during the three core days of Operation Sindoor, while the share in the HSM 15+ category increased from 4 percent to 15 percent — even higher than what was seen during the 2016 surgical strikes.

The most remarkable spike came in the form of daily tune-ins, which jumped from 73 million to 142 million viewers between Wednesday and Friday (May 7–9), showing how deeply Operation Sindoor resonated with households across the Hindi-speaking markets (HSM 2+).
MEA briefings also saw record-breaking spikes:
The first briefing on Wednesday (10:36–11:00 AM) saw a 509 percent jump in viewership.

The second briefing on Thursday evening registered a 125 percent spike.

The final Friday briefing clocked a 242 percent increase over normal weeks.

In a compelling testament to television’s ongoing relevance in the digital age, 65 million new viewers tuned in to Hindi News during this period — viewers who hadn’t sampled the genre in the past month (weeks 12–15). This influx highlights not just the magnitude of Operation Sindoor, but also the genre’s reach during national moments of crisis.

The BARC data conclusively underscores the deep trust viewers place in television news during times of uncertainty, proving again that news channels continue to play a vital role in informing and uniting the country.