News Broadcasting
Finance Minister’s interview on Headlines Today leads as the No.1 FM Interview
MUMBAI: Headlines Today dominate the FM interview ratings in the English News genre with Karan Thapar’s, ‘Nothing But The Truth’ special show. The channel took coverage around the Budget to new levels with the show hosted by Karan Thapar, leaving interviews of the FM across other channels far behind.
The Finance Minister faced a slew of blunt questions and direct concerns around the Budget on the show. The candid responses by the FM on the criticisms and the clear cut interviewing style of Karan Thapar ensured that viewers got their fill on all news and views around the Budget. The show led with over 13 TVT 000s (Source: TAM, Market -6 Metros, TG- CS 25+ M AB).
Karan Thapar among the most respected journalists stands out for his unique and direct interviewing style. He has interviewed the biggest names in News and brings with him, his expertise in hard hitting One- on-One interviews. This interview with the FM, besides a series of other prominent interviews has carved a position for the hard hitting interview show – ‘Nothing but the Truth with Karan Thapar’.
Maximum Ratings of Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley’s interview across English News Channels
1.Source: TAM, Market -6 Metros, TG- CS 25+ M AB
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2.Source: TAM, Market All India, TG- CS 25+ M AB
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News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
