News Broadcasting
FIR registered against Sudarshan TV channel
MUMBAI: An FIR has been registered against the chief managing director (CMD) and editor-in-chief of Sudarshan news channel for allegedly instigating enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion. Sudarshan News, a satellite TV channel launched on 26 January 2007, is a Hindi news channel based in Uttar Pradesh. Suresh Chavhanke is the chairman, managing director and also the editor-in-chief.
Sudarshan TV is among the list of channels which has applied to the ministry of information and broadcasting for approval of two more channels.
The FIR has been lodged under various sections of IPC including those dealing with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth and over content to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public and other sections, Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) police station SHO Brijmohan Giri told PTI.
Giri said that provisions related to intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion, deliberate and malicious acts, and Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2000, have also been invoked, he said. It was alleged that the channel had telecast a programme in which Chavhanke mentioned objectionable content because of which tension prevailed in the city.
The FIR was registered when the matter was raised during a meeting of the Peace Committee on 9 April, in which prominent citizens pointed to the programme aired between 6 April and 8 April.
When contacted by PTI, the channel said that it condemned any attempt to suppress and intimidate the media. A statement issued by Chavhanke stated that they condemned any act to suppress and the intimidate the media. To protest against that, he would be reaching Sambhal on 13 April.
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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.
