News Broadcasting
Aayush Ailawadi joins NDTV as editor – technology & AI
NEW DELHI: One of India’s most recognisable voices in tech and AI journalism, Aayush Ailawadi, has joined NDTV as editor – technology & AI, adding another marquee name to the broadcaster’s expanding digital-first arsenal.
Ailawadi made the announcement with characteristic flair, calling NDTV his “ultimate playground” and teasing followers to expect “maximum screens, maximum geek-outs and more surprises.”
With a career that spans BloombergQuint, India Today, CNBC-TV18, and even All India Radio, Ailawadi is known for making tech talk relatable and fun — whether it’s AI, gadgets, fintech or cybersecurity. His current podcast, Let’s Tech About It, co-produced between LA and Mumbai, has built a loyal community of enthusiasts.
Before this, he served as consulting editor at the RP Sanjiv Goenka Group and was technology editor and anchor at India Today, where he became a staple for millennial viewers tuning in for smart, jargon-free commentary.
In his freelance avatar, Ailawadi has also lent his voice to Discovery, Netflix (Bad Boy Billionaires), and dozens of corporate films — all while doubling up as a scriptwriter, strategist and voiceover artist.
His appointment underscores NDTV’s clear push into the tech vertical — aiming not just to inform, but to entertain, engage and, most of all, translate the complex for India’s growing digital citizenry.
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.
