CNBC-TV18
An Indian pay-television channel focused on business, financial and market news.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
CNBC-TV18 is an Indian pay-television business and financial news channel operated through the relationship between Network18 Group and the CNBC brand. It serves viewers interested in the Indian economy, companies, financial markets, investment, policy and corporate affairs, combining rolling news with interviews, market analysis and scheduled business programmes. The channel emerged from TV18's earlier involvement with Asia Business News India, commonly referred to as ABNi. Asia Business News was associated with Dow Jones, and CNBC's wider expansion in Asia and Europe created the basis for a new arrangement under the CNBC name. After discussions involving TV18, CNBC and executives connected with CNBC Asia, TV18 became CNBC's Indian partner. The resulting service launched as CNBC India in 1999 and subsequently became known as CNBC-TV18. Its editorial proposition is built around specialist business journalism rather than general-interest television news. Programming typically addresses equities, currencies, commodities, macroeconomic policy, taxation, corporate earnings, entrepreneurship, technology and personal finance. The channel's audience includes investors, business executives, analysts, professionals and viewers seeking market-moving information during trading hours as well as broader economic context outside the market day. CNBC-TV18 has also developed a digital extension through the CNBC-TV18 website, which publishes business news, market coverage, company information, explainers and video content. The television brand operates within the broader Network18 media group, whose portfolio includes news and entertainment properties. Its CNBC identity reflects the international business-news brand, while its reporting and programming are oriented primarily toward India. A notable expansion occurred in October 2011, when TV18 introduced CNBC TV18 Prime HD as a high-definition sister channel. The service was positioned as a premium, investor-focused offering, using a widescreen presentation and a stronger emphasis on market data and on-screen information. It was renamed CNBC TV18 PRIME effective 25 May 2025. The main CNBC-TV18 channel remains the core Indian business-news service, while the PRIME identity represents a more specialized presentation of the brand. The network also hosts the India Business Leader Awards, an annual recognition platform presented by the CNBC Network18 Group since 2005. The awards connect the channel with senior corporate leadership and reinforce its role as a business-media institution. CNBC-TV18's principal market remains India, and available reference material does not establish a separate international operating footprint beyond its association with the broader CNBC network.
History
CNBC-TV18 traces its origins to TV18's involvement with ABNi, the Indian sub-feed of Asia Business News. Asia Business News was associated with Dow Jones, while CNBC was developing a broader Asian and European business-news network. In 1997, CNBC reached an agreement to merge its networks in Asia and Europe with Dow Jones under the CNBC banner. The earlier ABNi arrangement did not fully specify what would happen if ownership or control changed, creating the need for a new agreement concerning the Indian service. Following discussions with CNBC representatives and Paul France, who led the merged CNBC Asia operation, TV18 established a relationship under which it would serve as CNBC's Indian partner. This arrangement led to the launch of CNBC India in 1999. The service later became known as CNBC-TV18, adopting the CNBC identity while focusing its journalism and programming on Indian business, financial markets and economic affairs. The channel developed as a specialist business-news outlet rather than a general news station. Its coverage model combined live market reporting with interviews, corporate news, economic policy, company results and analysis. This positioned the service for investors and business professionals while also making it a prominent source of financial information for a broader Indian audience. The brand's television operation was supported by online publishing, including the CNBC-TV18 website's articles, market updates and video material. A significant product expansion took place on 26 October 2011, when TV18 launched CNBC TV18 Prime HD. The sister channel was presented as a premium, investor-focused network. Its high-definition and widescreen format was accompanied by a greater emphasis on on-screen data and market-oriented presentation. The service provided a more specialized expression of the CNBC-TV18 proposition alongside the main channel. From 25 May 2025, it was renamed CNBC TV18 PRIME. The brand also expanded its institutional role through the India Business Leader Awards. The CNBC Network18 Group has presented the awards annually since 2005, using the platform to recognize business leaders and connect the media organization with India's corporate community. The awards are part of the brand's broader business-media positioning, although they are separate from the channel's regular news programming. CNBC-TV18 operates within the Network18 Group and uses the CNBC brand through its relationship with the international CNBC business-news organization. The available reference material describes the channel as an Indian pay-television service and does not provide a complete current list of corporate officers, detailed ownership percentages, headquarters information or a comprehensive account of all programming changes. Those fields are therefore left unfilled where the sources do not establish them.
- 2025
Prime HD renamed CNBC TV18 PRIME
[1]The sister service changed its name to CNBC TV18 PRIME effective 25 May 2025.
- 2011
CNBC TV18 Prime HD launched
[1]TV18 launched a high-definition sister channel aimed at premium investor-focused viewing and enhanced market-data presentation.
- 2005
India Business Leader Awards introduced
[1]The CNBC Network18 Group began presenting the India Business Leader Awards as an annual business-recognition platform.
- 1999
CNBC India launched
[1]TV18 launched CNBC India after becoming CNBC's Indian partner, building on the earlier ABNi service and related negotiations.
- 1997
CNBC and Dow Jones aligned their Asian and European networks
[1]CNBC reached an agreement to merge its Asian and European networks with Dow Jones under the CNBC banner, creating the context for a new Indian partnership.
Products and positioning
A specialist Indian business and financial news brand combining television market coverage, corporate journalism, economic analysis and digital business reporting.
Business and financial news television channel · 1999
CNBC-TV18
The core Indian CNBC-TV18 service is a pay-television channel devoted to business, finance and economic news. Its output includes live market reporting, company and earnings coverage, policy analysis, interviews with business and government figures, and commentary intended for investors and professionals. The channel's editorial focus is India, while its CNBC identity connects it to an international business-news brand.
High-definition investor-focused television channel · 2011
CNBC TV18 Prime HD
Launched in 2011, CNBC TV18 Prime HD was a sister service designed as a premium, investor-focused extension of the CNBC-TV18 proposition. It used a widescreen high-definition format and placed particular emphasis on market data and on-screen financial information. The service was subsequently renamed CNBC TV18 PRIME in 2025.
Investor-focused business news television channel · 2025
CNBC TV18 PRIME
CNBC TV18 PRIME is the name adopted by the former CNBC TV18 Prime HD service from 25 May 2025. It represents the high-definition, market-data-oriented branch of the CNBC-TV18 television offering and is positioned toward viewers seeking a premium investor-focused presentation.
Digital business-news media
CNBC-TV18 digital platform
The CNBC-TV18 website extends the television brand into digital publishing. It provides business and financial news, market coverage, company-related reporting, economic explainers and video content for users following Indian markets and corporate developments.
Marketing campaigns
- 2005India Business Leader Awards
India
The CNBC Network18 Group established the India Business Leader Awards as an annual recognition platform for business leadership and corporate achievement. The initiative supports CNBC-TV18's positioning as a specialist business-media brand with strong links to India's corporate sector.
Outcome. The awards have been presented annually by the CNBC Network18 Group since 2005, according to the referenced encyclopedia material.
Brand decisions
2025
Renamed Prime HD as CNBC TV18 PRIMEGeneration changeBackground
The investor-focused high-definition sister channel required a refreshed service identity within the CNBC-TV18 brand architecture.
Action taken
The channel was renamed CNBC TV18 PRIME effective 25 May 2025.
Aftermath
The renamed service continued the premium, data-oriented positioning associated with the former Prime HD channel.
2011
Introduced CNBC TV18 Prime HDProduct launchBackground
The main channel's business-news proposition was extended with a higher-definition service designed for viewers seeking a more premium, investor-oriented presentation.
Action taken
TV18 launched CNBC TV18 Prime HD on 26 October 2011, using a widescreen format and emphasizing on-screen market data.
Aftermath
The service became the specialized high-definition branch of the CNBC-TV18 offering and was later renamed CNBC TV18 PRIME.
1999
Adopted the CNBC identity for the Indian serviceStrategyBackground
TV18's earlier ABNi arrangement was affected by the wider CNBC and Dow Jones network changes and did not clearly address a change in ownership. TV18 therefore negotiated a new relationship with CNBC.
Action taken
TV18 became CNBC's Indian partner and launched CNBC India, later known as CNBC-TV18.
Aftermath
The arrangement established the channel as an India-focused business-news service operating under the internationally recognized CNBC brand.
Recent events
CNBC-TV18 hosts #CNBCTV18Tweetathon[3]
Reported:
CNBC-TV18 hosted a business unconference on Twitter on December 6, introducing #CNBCTV18Tweetathon to mark its 20th anniversary.
CNBC-TV18 launches Marquee Nights[4]
Reported:
CNBC-TV18 launched Marquee Nights, a series featuring entrepreneurs, global icons, policymakers, business promoters and trendsetters. Its first episode aired on September 27, 2019.
Sources4 sources
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