News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak stirs the pot with ‘Bahas Baazigar’ debate show launch
MUMBAI: If you’ve ever yelled at your TV during a news debate, Aaj Tak now wants you to do more than just scream into the void. The channel just launched Bahas Baazigar, India’s first interactive ‘debate-along’ show, where the audience doesn’t just watch—they weigh in.
Debuting on 7 April 2025, the show airs every Saturday at 8 pm and is hosted by firebrand anchor Anjana Om Kashyap. The format splits political representatives into two groups—for and against the motion—and lets them spar in front of a live audience. Think of it as Prime Time Parliament minus the chairs being thrown.
But here’s the real game-changer: the audience gets to vote in real-time. Not just those clapping in the studio, but you—yes, you sitting at home with snacks and sarcasm. All it takes is a scan of an on-screen QR code via the Aaj Tak app. Votes roll in live, shaping the outcome while the debate unfolds.
Each participant gets a set time to lay down their logic, so it’s less about volume and more about value. A panel of judges offers their take, but the final word lies with the audience, turning political debate into democratic sport.
Bahas Baazigar is Aaj Tak’s latest flex in reinventing television news, aiming to ditch the noise and bring structure, substance, and a splash of style. The show is designed to be the antithesis of screech-fests that masquerade as dialogue.
Whether you’re a policy nerd, a passive scroller, or a chai-fuelled uncle with opinions, this is your moment. Grab your phone, tune in, and take sides—because the revolution will be debated.
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.
