News Broadcasting
TV18 Q1 consolidated revenue at Rs 682 million
MUMBAI:TV 18’s consolidated revenues surged to Rs 681.57 million for the first quarter ended 30 June 2007, up from Rs 453.66 million in the year-ago period.
TV 18 has posted a net profit of Rs 76.19 million on a turnover of Rs 579.23 million from its news operations for the first quarter ended 30 June 2007.
In the year-ago period, revenue was at Rs 402.12 million while net profit stood at Rs 36.86 million. The company runs business channels CNBC-TV18 and CNBC-Awaaz.
Though revenue from internet and software operations jumped to Rs 93.41 million from Rs 51.54 million, TV 18 incurred a net loss of Rs 25.53 million as against a profit of Rs 21.29 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.
“The investment losses of Web 18 are minimised by strong revenues of existing portals,” the company said in an official release. Web 18 has commenced conversion to US GAAP standards.
Newswire 18’s revenue stood at Rs 8.93 million while net loss was at Rs 49.92 million for the quarter. TV 18 acquired Crisil MarketWire (CMW) from Crisil Ltd and rechristened it as Newswire 18.
Commenting on the performance TV18 MD Raghav Bahl said,: “We are thrilled with this Quarter’s performance. While our channels are scaling new heights in the business news space, the internet properties under Web18 have started posting robust revenues. Newswire18 has expanded its network and is ahead of its business plan.”
News Broadcasting
GenNext takes charge as Network18 reshuffles leadership
With Avinash Kaul bowing out, Network18 hands reins to younger leaders, streamlines operations, and pushes data-driven growth across TV, digital and regional markets
MUMBAI: Network18 is redrawing its leadership map just as a long-time lieutenant bows out. Avinash Kaul, a central figure in the broadcaster’s rise since 2014, is leaving after 12 years to pursue “professional and personal goals”, triggering a broad-based reshuffle that puts a younger cohort directly under the top brass.
Kaul joined at a pivotal moment during the company’s transition and went on to scale the television business, combining strategic nous with data-led decision-making and a sharp read of the news landscape. “Avinash has been an integral part of the Network18 story,” the company said, thanking him for his leadership of the broadcast business and wishing him the best for the future.
In his wake, Network18 is betting on what it calls a “young and restless” leadership bench. “The team has taken charge and proved its mettle in quite adverse circumstances,” the note said, adding that “GenNext has seamlessly stepped in as we continue to outperform our peers.”
Operationally, the structure is being flattened. Smriti Mehra, S Shivakumar and Mitul Sangani will work directly with the top leadership, as they did in the fourth quarter. Ganesh Iyer and Abhinay Chauhan continue in their existing roles, while younger executives are being handed wider mandates across social, digital, connected TV and linear.
The reporting lines are being tightened to drive revenue and product momentum. Prabhat Chatterjee, business head–Forbes, and Arun Thapar, president–content and communication for AETN-18, will report to Smriti Mehra, alongside Mallika Nath Handa, who will lead special projects spanning new shows and non-linear properties. Jayesh Gokalgandhi, CFO for AETN-18, will report to Ramesh Damani.
Mitul Sangani will oversee expansion in Hindi and regional markets, with Sidharth Newatia, CRO–ILC, focusing on reach and revenue growth, particularly in tier-II and III markets. Pankaj Soni, head of marketing–ILC, will also report to Sangani while working functionally with Ganesh Iyer.
The group is also consolidating its branded content play. Moneycontrol’s branded content business will be folded into News18 Studio, with Don Zarrar moving to work with Shivakumar while continuing to lead existing studio and Focus teams.
International and platform growth are being bundled together. Pranav Bakshi takes on additional charge of the international business alongside connected TV and social platforms, with Naveen Mathur, who leads revenue management for the international unit, reporting to him. Bakshi continues to report to Puneet Singhvi.
On the technology and operations side, Rajesh Sharma, head of broadcast technology and IT; Rahul Singh, head of events and technical operations; and Bhupender Bhardwaj, head of IT security, will now report to Singhvi. Darshil Parekh, head of sales strategy, planning and operations, will work directly with Ramesh Damani and the top leadership, with Stanley Cyril, who manages digital sales operations, reporting to him.
Data is being pushed to the centre of decision-making. Jitamitra Mohanty, who leads research and analytics, will now work with Santosh Menon to turn audience data into “actionable insights that drive content strategy, product innovation and sustainable viewership growth”.
The message is clear: fewer layers, faster calls, sharper bets. With Kaul’s exit closing one chapter, Network18 is handing the wheel to a younger crew and doubling down on scale across screens. The race, it signals, will be run at full tilt.
