News Broadcasting
Network 18 and Microsoft set up analytics centre for 2014 elections
MUMBAI: Just as India enters its first leg of election 2014, Network 18 has announced a partnership with Microsoft India in order to create a Microsoft Election Analytics Centre for its two premiere English and Hindi channels: CNN-IBN and IBN7.
The centre will make use of the software and hardware technologies from Microsoft in order to bring analysis, trends and data visualisation during the general elections. Both current as well as historical data will be used to give election insights that will be powered by data visualisation by a Microsoft partner, Gramener.
Speaking on the development Network18 COO Ajay Chacko said, “General Elections 2014 are possibly the most complex electoral exercise ever undertaken. Technologically enabled tools and skills are required to decode, decipher and analyse the subtle nuances of these elections. We are excited about partnering with Microsoft in this context and leveraging their leadership in technology and analytics. We are confident that this will further add to our legacy of credibility and accuracy in elections programming.”
Microsoft India chairman Bhaskar Pramanik said, “With a billion people gearing up to make their voices heard, there is a lot of data out there that can sometimes be confusing. Using cloud services, big data analysis and data visualisation will help CNN-IBN present that data in a manner that makes sense to the Indian voter, and helps them engage with the election process much more than ever before.”
An ‘Indian Election’ app has been created for viewers to find, search and engage with election data in a unique way. This will be assisted by its online platforms such as IBNLive.com, Firstpost.com and Bing.com. The app can be downloaded by Windows phone and Windows 8 tablet users. Very soon, it will also be available to Android and iOS users.
IBN Network editor in chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “We are very excited about the partnership with Microsoft India. We have always believed in putting our viewers first and giving them the best we can. This partnership is another step in that direction. Microsoft with its vast expertise in technology and analytics will definitely add value and precision to our programming this election.”
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.
