News Broadcasting
GNT gains 7.6% share of HSM market in week 13 on free platforms: Barc
Mumbai: Hindi news channel Good News Today (GNT) has captured 7.6 per cent market share on free platforms within the first month of ratings released by Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) India. GNT is a part of India Today Group that showcases stories of hope, human triumph, innovation, and inspiration from different parts of the world.
As per Barc ratings, the channel has topped rankings for the Hindi-speaking market region in terms of market share for week 13 of 2022 on free platforms.
“GNT, which is uniquely positioned with its news packaged as humanely and emotionally positive, has found high appreciation amongst its viewers,” said the channel in a statement.
Barc ratings have been released after a 17-month gap. GNT has a greater market share as compared to Zee News at 6.8 per cent, Zee Hindustan at 6.6 per cent, News Nation at 5.6 per cent, ABP News at 5.4 per cent, DD News with 2.6 per cent, and others in the 15+ target audience in the free all target category.
(Source: Barc India; TG: 15+ Free All; Market: HSM; Period: Wk 13’22; market share % in 13 Hindi News Channels)
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.
