News Broadcasting
ABP Ananda holds number one spot in Bengal with 29.5 per cent market share and massive 10.5-point lead
MUMBAI: News may change by the hour, but in Bengal, the top channel barely budged. ABP Ananda ended FY 2024-25 with a knockout 29.5 per cent market share, claiming the number one slot in West Bengal’s Bengali news scene. According to BARC (ABC 15+, Full Day), it was 10.5 percentage points ahead of its nearest rival, News18 Bangla.
For 48 out of 53 weeks, the channel sat smugly at the top, leaving competitors to play musical chairs beneath it. Even Week 14 of FY 2025-26 kicked off strong, with ABP Ananda holding 27.9 per cent share. Clearly, the throne isn’t up for grabs just yet.
Behind the big numbers is a programming cocktail that’s resonating across Bengal. From the prime-time punch of Ghanta Khanek Sange Suman to the debate-driven Jukti Takko, ABP Ananda keeps the conversation relevant. Meanwhile, specials like Sera Bengali and Khaibaar Pass have added spice to the line-up, appealing to cultural sensibilities beyond hard news.
Election sagas, Durga Puja marathons, and economic updates—ABP Ananda covered them all and did it with a consistency that kept viewers locked in. With 90 per cent of the fiscal year spent at number one, the channel hasn’t just built reach; it’s built trust.
Here’s the final FY 2024-25 leaderboard:
. ABP Ananda: 29.5 per cent
. News18 Bangla: 19.0 per cent
. R. Bangla: 15.6 per cent
. TV9 Bangla: 13.2 per cent
. Zee 24 Ghanta: 9.3 per cent
And Week 14 of FY 2025-26 is off to a similar tune:
. ABP Ananda: 27.9 per cent
. News18 Bangla: 23.9 per cent
. R. Bangla: 14.6 per cent
. TV9 Bangla: 11.1 per cent
. Zee 24 Ghanta: 10.7 per cent
As for what’s next? More interactive formats and community-driven storytelling are on the agenda.
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.
