News Broadcasting
Anuj Singhal – Fuelling CNBC Awaaz’s Unrivalled Success
Mumbai: CNBC Awaaz is a prominent Indian business news channel that primarily broadcasts in the Hindi language. It is a subsidiary of CNBC, which is known for its comprehensive coverage of business, finance, and economic news.
CNBC Awaaz focuses on delivering business and financial news in a format that is accessible to Hindi-speaking audiences in India. The channel provides real-time updates on the stock market, business developments, economic trends, and investment insights. It features discussions, interviews with industry experts, and analysis of market conditions to help viewers make informed decisions regarding their finances and investments.
The channel also covers a wide range of topics, including entrepreneurship, personal finance, and consumer-related issues. CNBC Awaaz’s programming is designed to cater to both seasoned investors and individuals looking to enhance their financial literacy. CNBC Awaaz plays a vital role in keeping viewers informed about the ever-evolving world of business, finance, and economics.
Anuj Singhal, the managing editor of CNBC-Awaaz, reflected on the journey of being a pioneer in the Hindi business news segment 18 years ago and discussed the opportunities as well as challenges in the genre today.
In the early days, CNBC was one of the few serious players in the field, with English channels like NDTV Profit attempting to enter the market. The decision to launch CNBC-Awaaz, a Hindi business channel, was based on the belief that Hindi was a growing and potentially significant market. While English was the primary language for business, the management seemed to foresee the increasing domestic investment in the market. What started as a hopeful endeavour has now become a major trend.
In terms of expansion into regional languages, CNBC-Awaaz has already established a foothold in the Gujarati language. Singhal mentioned that business news in vernacular languages will likely evolve over time, and regions like Kerala could represent a significant market. However, the decision to launch a channel in a new language would be made at the network level, considering the market’s size and potential.
When asked about what sets CNBC-Awaaz apart as the biggest player in the market, he highlighted the network’s strong reach and leverage as part of India’s top news network. “CNBC-Awaaz benefits from the research and management interviews conducted by CNBC TV18. Moreover, CNBC-Awaaz’s consistent leadership in the field and its legacy have contributed to its continued success.”
Singhal also stated that CNBC-Awaaz has a Hindi-specific strategy and a top-tier Hindi team. “Our team excels in covering policies and is among the first to report breaking news. While they may pick up some reports from CNBC TV18, they produce substantial original content, particularly related to markets.”
Regarding the influx of new investors and influencers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Anuj emphasized the importance of accuracy over speed. “CNBC-Awaaz prioritizes verification and ensures that all of the channel’s investment advisors are SEBI-licensed. This adds a level of accountability and trust for viewers,” he added.
He also noted that Mumbai is the biggest market for CNBC-Awaaz, which also includes suburban regions of the city. The channel serves traders in various parts of the city, and its viewership extends to the southern regions where Hindi business news is consumed.
Singhal highlighted the importance of the channel’s role, which includes providing feedback on industry responses to policies, which may influence government decisions.
In conclusion, Anuj Singhal’s reflections on CNBC-Awaaz’s remarkable journey in the Hindi business news segment over the past 18 years underscore the network’s pivotal role in shaping and catering to the evolving needs of India’s diverse and dynamic business landscape. With a growing interest in regional languages and the potential for further expansion, CNBC-Awaaz is poised to continue its journey of informing, educating, and influencing the business community in India. Its role in providing valuable insights and facilitating policy discussions underscores its importance as a trusted source of information and a key influencer in the realm of business news in 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.
