TV18

TV18, formally TV18 Broadcast Limited, was an Indian television company associated with the Network18 Group. The company developed and operated a broad portfolio of television properties spanning business news, general news, regional news, entertainment and high-definition programming. Its corporate history included the names Global Broadcast News and IBN18 Broadcast Limited before the TV18 identity became associated with the group's broadcasting operations. TV18's national portfolio included CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC-TV18 Prime HD through partnerships with NBCUniversal, as well as CNN-News18 through a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. These channels gave the company a presence across English-language business and general news, Hindi business news and premium high-definition television. The group also operated CNBC Bajar, a Gujarati business-news service; News18 Lokmat, a Marathi general-news channel; ten regional news channels under the News18 umbrella; and three regional entertainment channels using the News18 brand. News18 India provided a 24-hour Indian news service in English aimed at audiences beyond the domestic market. TV18 also participated in IndiaCast, a strategic joint venture formed with Viacom18. IndiaCast was structured as a multi-platform content-asset monetisation business covering domestic and international channel distribution, placement services and content syndication. This extended TV18's role beyond channel ownership and programming into the commercial distribution of television content from the group and from third parties. A major structural change took place on 31 January 2018, when TV18 raised its stake in the Viacom18 joint venture to 51 percent and obtained operational control. The move strengthened its influence over a wider entertainment and content-distribution ecosystem, although TV18 continued to operate within the broader Network18 structure rather than as an entirely independent media house. In October 2024, TV18 merged with its parent, Network18 Group. As a result, TV18 ceased to exist as a separate corporate broadcasting entity, while the channels, partnerships and operating activities associated with its portfolio became part of the reorganized Network18 structure. The brand is therefore best treated as a former Indian television company and broadcasting platform rather than as a currently independent listed media company.

TV18 was an Indian television company whose corporate lineage included Global Broadcast News and IBN18 Broadcast Limited. It was founded in 1993 and later became part of the Network18 Group's broadcasting structure. The company was based in Mumbai and operated television properties across several editorial and commercial categories. Its portfolio combined national and regional services. In business news, TV18 operated CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC-TV18 Prime HD through separate arrangements with NBCUniversal. CNBC-TV18 served as a prominent English-language business-news property, while CNBC Awaaz addressed Hindi-speaking audiences and CNBC-TV18 Prime HD provided a high-definition version of the group's business-news offering. TV18 also operated CNN-News18 through a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, giving the company a major general-news presence in English. The company's regional operations included CNBC Bajar, a Gujarati business-news channel, and News18 Lokmat, a Marathi general-news channel. It also operated ten regional news channels under the News18 name and three regional entertainment channels carrying the News18 brand. News18 India supplied a 24-hour English-language Indian news service directed toward audiences outside India as well as viewers interested in Indian news internationally. TV18's activities extended beyond direct channel operations. Together with Viacom18, it formed IndiaCast, a strategic joint venture intended to monetize content assets across multiple platforms. IndiaCast handled or supported domestic and international channel distribution, carriage and placement services, and content syndication for channels owned by the group and for third-party content providers. This arrangement positioned TV18 within a broader television-distribution and content-commercialization network. On 31 January 2018, TV18 increased its stake in Viacom18 to 51 percent. The transaction gave TV18 operational control of the joint venture and represented a significant expansion of its influence over entertainment and related media assets. The change was important because it linked the company's news and broadcasting operations more closely with a larger entertainment and content-distribution ecosystem. TV18 ultimately remained closely integrated with Network18. In October 2024, it merged with Network18 Group, its parent company. The merger removed TV18 as a separate corporate broadcasting entity, although the channels and business activities associated with its portfolio continued within the parent group's structure. TV18 should therefore be understood historically as a Network18 broadcasting company and portfolio platform, with a status that became defunct as an independent entity after the 2024 merger.

1. 2024Merger into Network18

   In October, TV18 merges with its parent company, Network18 Group, and ceases to operate as a separate corporate entity.

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2. 2018TV18 takes operational control of Viacom18

   On 31 January, TV18 raises its stake in the Viacom18 joint venture to 51 percent and assumes operational control.

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3. 1993TV18 is founded

   TV18 is established as an Indian media and television company.

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A Network18 broadcasting platform combining national news, business news, regional news, entertainment and multi-platform content distribution.

• CNBC-TV18English business-news channel

  A national English-language business-news channel operated through TV18's partnership with NBCUniversal. It formed one of the company's principal financial and market-information properties.

• CNBC AwaazHindi business-news channel

  A Hindi-language business-news service operated through the TV18 and NBCUniversal relationship, extending the group's financial and economic programming to Hindi-speaking viewers.

• CNBC-TV18 Prime HDHigh-definition business-news channel

  A high-definition business-news service included in TV18's national channel portfolio and operated through its partnership with NBCUniversal.

• CNN-News18English general-news channel

  An English-language national news channel operated through TV18's partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. It served as one of the group's principal general-news properties.

• News18 IndiaEnglish news channel

  A 24-hour Indian news service in English aimed at audiences interested in Indian affairs, including viewers outside the domestic market.

• CNBC BajarGujarati business-news channel

  A regional Gujarati business-news channel that expanded TV18's financial-news presence beyond its national services.

• News18 LokmatMarathi general-news channel

  A Marathi general-news channel operated as part of the News18 regional portfolio.

• IndiaCastContent distribution and syndication joint venture

  A strategic joint venture between TV18 and Viacom18 focused on monetizing content assets through domestic and international channel distribution, placement services and content syndication.

• 2024Merger with Network18 GroupM&A

  TV18 operated as part of the Network18 Group and was ultimately consolidated into its parent structure.

  What changed. In October 2024, TV18 merged with Network18 Group.

  Aftermath. TV18 ceased to exist as a separate corporate broadcasting company, while its associated channels and activities continued under the Network18 structure.

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• 2018Increase of Viacom18 stakeM&A

  TV18 was already involved with Viacom18 through the IndiaCast and broader content ecosystem. It increased its ownership stake in the Viacom18 joint venture to 51 percent.

  What changed. TV18 took operational control of Viacom18 on 31 January 2018.

  Aftermath. The move strengthened TV18's influence across entertainment, channel distribution and content monetization.

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• 2024TV18 merges with Network18 Group

  In October 2024, TV18 was merged into its parent company, Network18 Group, ending its existence as a separate corporate broadcasting entity.

  M&A
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• 2018TV18 increases Viacom18 stake and takes operational control

  TV18 raised its holding in the Viacom18 joint venture to 51 percent, giving it operational control of the partnership.

  M&A
  Source

1. TV18
2. TV18 corporate website