News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak’s ‘JBC’ with Jaaferi attracts maximum eyeballs in debut episode
MUMBAI: Aaj Taks latest programming initiative JBC featuring Jaaved Jaaferi in a new ‘avatar’ has topped the TRP charts for any programme on the news channels.
As per TAM ratings for the week ending 31 January 2004, JBC clocked a TRP of 0.71, which is the highest for any news-based programme for the week. In fact, nine out of the top 10 programmes on various news channels during that week belong to Aaj Tak.
Commenting on the shows performance TV Today Network CEO G Krishnan said, “When we launched JBC, we were quite sure that its uniqueness would be a hit amongst the viewers. JBC and other Aaj Tak programmes are highly appreciated by the viewers. These innovations are in-line with our efforts of providing freshness of programming. We will continue to implement a slew of programming innovations based on in-house researches that would touch the lives of our viewers.”
Top 10 Programmes on News Channels
Channel
Programme
TVR
Aaj Tak
JBC
0.71
Aaj Tak
Aaj Tak 8 pm
0.51
Aaj Tak
Aaj Tak 8 am
0.44
Aaj Tak
Aaj Tak 9 pm
0.44
Aaj Tak
Aaj Tak Metro
0.43
Aaj Tak
Aaj Tak Metro
0.43
Aaj Tak
Vishesh
0.42
Zee News
Crime File
0.40
Aaj Tak
Duniya Aaj Tak
0.39
Aaj Tak
Aaj Tak 8 pm
0.38
JBC, a bi-weekly variety newsmagazine is the latest addition to Aaj Taks weekend programming schedule. It is a 30-minute spoof on the happenings that make the headlines and is aired on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:30 pm.
JBC is like any other news show, except that Jaaferi and his team transform it into a one-of-its-kind entertainment show with inimitable talents drawn from theatre, television and films from different corners of the country.
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.
