News Broadcasting
ABP News concludes ‘Shikhar Sammelan,’ offering illuminating insights into Chhattisgarh’s political landscape
Mumbai: ABP News, one of India’s Hindi news channels, delved once again into the political landscape of Chhattisgarh through an enlightening session of ‘Shikhar Sammelan,’ as the state gears up for its upcoming legislative assembly. This flagship event showcased ABP News’ unwavering commitment to furnishing a platform for in-depth discussions and analyses of pivotal political and governance matters. The half-day conclave was organised on August 19, 2023, at BabyLon International in Raipur.
ABP News’ ‘Shikhar Sammelan’, renowned for its rigorous assessment of governmental performance, brought together eminent figures, thought leaders, and citizens to engage in meaningful dialogues concerning the challenges and opportunities facing Chhattisgarh.
Distinguished attendees at the event included Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who shared invaluable insights derived from his leadership journey. Also present were Chhattisgarh former chief minister Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh INC general secretary in-charge Kumari Selja, spiritual Guru Sadhu Manvendra Das & Dr. Kumar Vishwas and preacher Devakinandan Thakur, and bhagwat preacher & motivational speaker Devi Chitralekha. Rajya Sabha member Saroj Pandey; BJP MLA Brajmohan Agarwal, Chhattisgarh Congress committee state president Deepak Baij and Chhattisgarh cabinet minister Dr. Shiv Dahria also graced the event with their presence.
At the event, Baghel addressed the forthcoming state assembly elections. He highlighted that Congress initially secured 68 seats in the 2018 elections, which later increased to 71 through subsequent by-elections. Baghel stressed that preserving this count poses a considerable challenge. The party is dedicated to achieving and sustaining this target, showcasing their political commitment.
‘Shikhar Sammelan’ stands as a testament to ABP News’ dedication to fostering transparency, accountability, and responsible governance. The event provided a platform where key decision-makers directly engaged with the people they represent, underscoring the essence of participatory democracy.
The event concluded successfully, marking another significant achievement for ABP News in its endeavour to promote informed discussions and meaningful interactions.
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.
