News Broadcasting
I&B minister urges media restraint on sensitive issues
NEW DELHI: The minister of information & broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad has called upon the media, both print and electronic, to exercise self-restraint while reporting on sensitive matters like riots, terrorist activities and security related issues.
There has to be a proper blend in the freedom of expression and the citizens right to choice Prasad said. Inaugurating the new premises for the Press Council of India (PCI) at Soochna Bhawan here today, Prasad said that the Press Council has suggested some more powers to ensure that it decisions are implemented. These are being looked into but a holistic view has to be taken and the government has to ensure that it is not seen as reflection a press freedom.
He said that the government had no intention to exercise any control on press freedom. In this connection, he also said that the representation on PCI also has to be considered so that the oligarchy is not allowed and the representation is on a wide basis. This would give greater moral authority and respect to the Council.
The minister also pointed out to the debate on whether the newspapers should be treated as a commodity or institution. Should the editorials and the news items be sponsored or not? All these questions have to be addressed by the mediapersons to retain the credibility of the newspapers, he said.
Prasad said that the newspapers still have great reach and relevance despite the onslaught of the TV channels. India has about 50,000 newspapers published in 82 languages with a sixty million circulation of daily newspapers with a growth rate of five per cent.
The chairman of Press Council of India Justice Jayachandra Reddy called upon the newspapers to uphold the high traditions to emulate the great role they played during the freedom struggle. He also called for some sort of regulation for the electronic media, which at present is not bound by any norms, he said. The minister also launched the website of the Press Council on the occasion.
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.
