New Delhi, India — June 12, 2026: India TV has officially announced a strategic schedule change for its flagship prime-time news analysis program, Aaj Ki Baat. Effective Monday, June 15, 2026, the widely followed show hosted by veteran journalist Rajat Sharma will move to an earlier time slot, airing weekdays at 8:30 PM.
As one of India’s most credible and heavily viewed evening news programs, Aaj Ki Baat is highly regarded for its sharp editorial perspectives and rigorous, fact-based analysis. Moving the broadcast forward ensures viewers get definitive insights into the day’s biggest stories earlier in the evening.
Dominating Prime-Time Ratings: The Numbers Behind Aaj Ki Baat
The network’s decision to shift the broadcast comes at a time when the show continues to heavily dominate national television statistics. According to BARC India (2+ India) data, Aaj Ki Baat commands an incredible lifetime reach of over 440 million viewers, establishing it as one of the country’s most influential news properties.
Throughout 2025, the program maintained staggering viewership momentum, pulling in an average of 38 million daily viewing minutes.
Why the Show Remains a Premium Choice for Advertisers
This massive, highly sticky audience base makes Aaj Ki Baat an exceptionally lucrative daily asset for advertisers. The show’s core viewership represents a highly mature, affluent, and decision-making demographic:
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73% of the audience belongs to the 31+ age group.
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57% of the viewers originate from premium NCCS A households.
The Legacy of Rajat Sharma
Driving this unparalleled viewer loyalty is India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma, a definitive voice in Indian journalism. Over a storied career spanning several decades, Sharma has covered shifting political eras ranging from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, witnessing more than 150 national and state elections combined.
Beyond Aaj Ki Baat, his authoritative voice anchors Aap Ki Adalat—India’s longest-running television interview show. This legacy of high-impact journalism translates seamlessly into a massive digital footprint, including over 11.5 million followers on X (formerly Twitter) and 2.6 million on Facebook.
Anchoring Trusted Journalism on India TV
This strategic transition to the 8:30 PM slot reinforces India TV’s ongoing commitment to anchoring its evening schedule with trusted, definitive journalism. By aligning the nation’s most influential news property with an earlier prime-time window, the network ensures that audiences access authoritative contextual analysis exactly when it matters most.
Tune-In Details: Watch Aaj Ki Baat with Rajat Sharma at its new time of 8:30 PM, Monday to Friday, starting June 15, 2026, exclusively on India TV.
