MUMBAI: Even as the new Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Vempati plans pubcasters' overhaul, Doordarshan News has reportedly beaten all private English channels, according to BARC data.

Screams by star news anchors notwithstanding, English news channels hardly reach around four million in a population of over 1.2 billion Indians.

According to the BARC data for 10--16 June 2017, an average of 34.2 per cent educated & high income group male viewers of age-group 22 and above in cities with a population of 10 lakh or more, watched DD English News, leaving other channels behind.

As compared to Times Now (28.2 per cent) and Republic TV (17.9 per cent), DD News achieved a higher percentage, One India reported.

BARC data of that week showed that over half of the total viewers in the category of both, male and female, of ages 15 or above in rural and urban areas watched DD News when it showed English bulletin while other channels were left fighting over less than 50 per cent of the market share.

The average viewership pattern of last four weeks in the rural & urban area, as per BARC data, showed that an average of 58 per cent of English News viewers watched DD News when it aired English news bulletin.

In urban areas with over 10 lakh population, an area which is considered the dominant market for private English news channels, as per four weeks' average BARC data, over 40 per cent of the well-educated and high-income group males of age-group 22 and above watched DD's English news bulletin, although most other channels struggle to reach even five per cent mark.

Vempati meanwhile plans to revamp pubcasters' official websites, focus on digitally monetising content, and change IT systems. Solving manpower issues and making Prasar tech-enabled are Vempati's priorities this year. Prasar is planning a global digital platform (such as Al Jazeera and like BBC) by the end of 2017, Mint reported.