News Broadcasting
Network18’s Vishal Srivastava quits
MUMBAI: Network 18 is seeing major reshuffling with several elevations, appointments and resignations across its portfolio of channels. Adding to the list is CNBC TV18 executive VP and Head global business Vishal Srivastava who has stepped down from his position. In his past role, Srivastava used to head the government and international sales for all the channels under the network.
A source close to the development told Indiantelevision.com that Network 18 does not have a replacement for Srivastava as of yet. He has been associated with the company for more than 13 years.
The company recently saw CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar editor in chief Sanjay Pugalia stepping down. Pugalia had joined TV18 as editor for its Hindi language programming initiatives in March 2004. In an internal mail that was circulated, Alok Joshi has been elevated as the managing editor of CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar while Dharmendra Singh has been elevated to deputy managing editor.
In the past, Network18 had appointed Joy Chakraborthy as president of revenue at TV18 in April 2016. Chakraborthy looks after the revenue across all entities within TV18. The many sales heads under the TV18 group except for Viacom18 report to him.
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.
