News Broadcasting
IBN18: Losses rise; operational efficiency improves
MUMBAI: Things appear to be looking up at an operational level for IBN18 if one considers the company’s financial results for the year ended 31 March 2010. There has been a healthy jump in revenues and a slight fall in costs on a standalone basis. This, after last fsical’s operational losses, is a positive sign. However, from the shareholders viewpoint further improvements will have to be done by the management since IBN18’s overall net loss has widened to Rs 821 million in the year, as compared to Rs 682.21 million in FY09.
The standalone results include the performance of the two news channels CNN IBN and IBN7.
The company has posted a 15.9 per cent jump in the revenue for the fiscal at Rs 2.1 billion, as compared to last fiscal’s Rs 1.81 billion. Also its expenses have dipped marginally to Rs 2.37 billion from Rs 2.41 billion in FY09.
IBN18’s other income rose considerably this fiscal at Rs 536.51 million, as compared to Rs 39.86 million. Interest charges have also shot up and at Rs 433.92 million these are 126.6 per cent higher than FY09 where they were Rs 191.5 million. For FY10, the company posted an operating profit (Ebitda) of Rs 415.89 million as against an Ebitda loss of Rs 391.32 million.
On a consolidated basis, IBN18’s revenue rose considerably from Rs 1.83 billion in FY09 to Rs 6.03 billion FY10, mainly because of accrual of its JV partner Viacom18’s revenue to its balance sheet. However, it also added to the expenses of the firm at Rs 6.55 billion, as against Rs 2.57 billion in FY09. The net loss the firm made on a consolidated basis is Rs 1.1 billion in FY10, up from last fiscal’s 920 million. However, after adding the other income of Rs 548 million in the fiscal, the company has turned Ebitda positive at Rs 239.61 million, as against an operating loss of Rs 512.31 million in previous fiscal.
On a consolidated basis, IBN18 has included the financial results of its 50 per cent joint venture stakes in Viacom 18 and IBN Lokmat. Viacom18 which has had a net loss of Rs 429.9 million contributed Rs 168.8 million to IBN 18’s consolidated net loss in FY10. IBN Lokmat on the other hand sustained a net loss of Rs 210.9 million and contributed a further Rs 105.4 million to the firm’s consolidated net loss.
One of the reasons the company’s net loss in FY10 has gone up even though its operational workings have improved, is due to a provision made for an expected diminution in value of investments, to the tune of Rs 658.94 million on a standalone basis and Rs 658.1 million on a consolidated basis.
IBN18’s share price closed at Rs 83 on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Friday.
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.
