News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak goes ‘100/100’ for poll climax
MUMBAI: Aaj Tak has launched Sau Ghante, Sau Reporters (100 hours, 100 reporters), to cover the grand finale of the election coverage and the run-up to the formation of thegovernment at the Centre.
SaSau Ghante, Sau Reporters (100 hours, 100 reporters) is what Aaj Tak calls its latest programming initiative that will mark the run-up to the formation of the government at the Centre.
It will involve 100 hours of live, uninterrupted and up-to-the-minute election coverage handled by 100 reporters across the length and breadth of India.
The live telecast will begin on the last day of voting (10 May) at 6 am and continue till the complete results of the elections are available on 14th May The programme will comprise live programming focusing on the trends that have emerged based on the final exit poll, as well as the results on the counting day.
The live programming will also carry interviews of politicians and the electorate, the assembly results as well and trivia regarding the politicians daily routine while they are awaiting the results.
To add variation and a distinct flavour to this offering, Aaj Tak has roped in veteran astrologer Maa Prem Usha to forecast the results pertaining to the various politicians and parties.
There are also plans to offer a SMS based contest to the viewers wherein they can partake in the excitement of the electoral results and also win great prizes for it.
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.
