News Broadcasting
ET NOW decodes the most awaited #Budget2014
MUMBAI: As the Modi government gears up to present its first union budget, India’s number one business news channel ET Now is set to launch a power packed line up of shows. ET Now will be kicking off its special two-week long comprehensive programming from 30 June, 7:30 pm. Over 10 special shows will be aired in the run up to the big budget that will cover not just key sectoral expectations but also the economic imperatives of this make-or-break exercise. Given the significance of this budget, ET Now has aptly used the tagline ‘The Big Reset’ for its entire budget programming.
Times Television Network managing director and CEO MK Anand said, “This is the new government’s maiden budget and ET Now will bring together leading experts across different fields in India, think-tanks, global investors and the country’s best editorial minds to decipher and analyse the union budget 2014. Through our shows, we aim to reach out to every Indian from industrialists to the common man by providing a detailed coverage on the run up to the budget and the budget day.”
ET Now managing editor R Sridharan said, “We have the most powerful line up of seasoned experts in the business. ET Now will also have the most viewer-friendly screen and the fastest flashes. Our programming line-up caters every key stakeholder in the economy ranging from the CEO to the retail investor. The viewers’ overwhelming response to our budget 2013 programming is a vindication of the tremendous value that our content delivers.”
Times Now, ET Now and zoom CMO Jatin Bhatt said, “With all eyes on the much-anticipated budget from the Modi government, ET Now has put together an extensive programming line-up that will give audiences a holistic view on the Indian economy and the impact it will have after the union budget 2014 is announced. For a channel like ours, union budget is an opportunity to present the most engaging and eclectic content that builds credibility among our existing viewers and helps generating new audiences.
ET Now’s budget programming will be led by India’s most respected economist- Swaminathan Aiyar, who is also the channel’s consulting editor. Apart from Swaminathan Aiyar, other prominent economists like Bibek Debroy and Mythili Bhusnurmath will be commenting exclusively on ET NOW.
The key shows are as follows:
Budget 2014: The Politics of Budget
Budget 2014 will be the budget presented by the new government in power. ET Now’s policy editor Supriya Shrinate to quiz the biggest political commentators on the politics that will be at play for budget 2014
Date: 30 June, 7:30 pm
Budget 2014: Cracking the Tax Code
Panel discussion will focus on the key taxation issues in the run up to budget 2014. Some of the biggest tax experts and lawyers will be analysing the likely tax reforms and their impact on corporate India and the taxpayer.
Date: 1 July, 7:30 pm
Budget 2014: The Global View
The show to decode the game changing reforms that could change market sentiment and attract foreign money, the expectations of the investors. Catch top global fund managers and market experts share their budget expectations exclusively on ET Now.
Date: 2 July, 7:30 pm
Budget 2014: The Market Makers Budget Special
Stocks editor Nikunj Dalmia to interview big market voices on market expectations from budget and stocks and sectors to watch out for.
Date: 3 July, 7:30 pm
Budget 2014: Macroscope
A discussion programme anchored by Mythili Bhusnurmath that gives a view of the macroeconomic imperatives faced by the government, and how the budget is likely to address them.
Date: 4 July, 7:30 pm
Budget 2014: What Markets Want
Nikunj Dalmia to interview (three person panel) with three of the biggest market voices analysing the market expectations from budget 2014
Date: 7 July, 7:30 pm
Budget 2014: Rail Budget
The Narendra Modi-led NDA government will announce its maiden railway budget in Parliament. Just as the general budget, the rail budget is also keenly watched by experts and the country as a whole. Watch the extensive coverage of the budget only on ET Now with eminent experts from various fields
Date: 8 July, 11:00 am
Budget 2014: Budget & India Inc
A panel discussion anchored by ET Now’s national editor Sandeep Gurumurthi. It will bring together the top names from corporate India to talk about how the budget can spur growth, and give an impetus to the reform process. India Inc’s biggest CEOs will share their wish list.
Time: 7:30 pm
Budget 2014: Eco Survey 2014
A detailed coverage of annual document of the ministry of finance. In the economic survey programming ET Now will speak to experts about the developments in the Indian economy over the previous 12 months and will also analyse the reforms roadmap of the govt.
Date: 9 July; 11:00 am
Budget 2014: An Agenda for the FM
The biggest macro-minds and economists come together to present an agenda for the FM. Catch ET Now’s budget think tank: Swaminathan Aiyar, Bibek Debroy and Punita Kumar Sinha present an agenda for the FM. This show will be anchored by ET Now’s policy editor Supriya Shrinate.
Time: 6:30 pm
Budget Day programming
The budget day will have budget special programming all through the day with ET Now’s best line of experts comprising CEO’s, economists, market experts and foreign investors.
Stay tuned to ET Now all this budget season for the most credible and accurate analysis of budget 2014.
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.
