News Broadcasting
I&B ministry issues advisory to news channels; plans changes in Cable TV Act
MUMBAI: Information and Broadcasting ministry has issued an advisory to all the private news channels, to exercise restraint while airing news related to Mumbai terror attacks and its subsequent developments.
Appreciating the efforts of the media for covering the attacks, the ministry has cautioned news channels to “exercise some degree of caution and restraint as a mark of respect to those who have died in the terror strikes,” PTI quotes a senior official of the Ministry as saying.
“Though we appreciate the maturity shown by the Indian media while broadcasting last week’s terror attacks, through the advisory issued we have appealed to them that by repeatedly showing the visuals of the carnage, they are inadvertently harming the sentiments of those affected by it,” the official adds.
The advisory has been sent to the channels only to give them a message that they should be a bit more considerate in their coverage of the incident even though they have shown a lot responsibility.
It was learnt initially that the Ministry may take some decisions regarding further tightening of the cable laws. However, Ministry sources said that considering the responsible role of media, they just decided to issue an advisory.
Meanwhile, the ministry is tightening laws governing cable television broadcast, for which it is planning to introduce changes in Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995.
In the backdrop of India TV getting a notice from the ministry last week for airing a telephonic conversation with a couple of terrorists involved in the attack, ministry officials held a series of long meetings chaired by I&B secretary Sushma Singh to discuss the pros and cons of amending the Cable TV Act in order to bring private television channel coverage under stricter supervision.
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.
