News Broadcasting
BARC Ratings: CNN-News18 stays ahead of competition on Counting Day
Mumbai: As per the data released by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), CNN-News18 has reaffirmed its stronghold in the English News segment, securing a remarkable 30.6% market share on the Counting Day of assembly elections held across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana on December 3, 2023.
Positioning itself as the number one choice of viewers for comprehensive Counting Day coverage, CNN-News18 outperformed its competitors in the genre. (Source: BARC | Metric: Market Share | TG: 15+AB | Period: 3rd December (24 hrs) | Market: India)
The resounding success of CNN-News18 on Counting Day can be attributed to its special election programming, delivering the quickest and most accurate results, coupled with top-tier anchors like Zakka Jacob, Anand Narasimhan, and Rahul Shivshankar. The channel’s extensive network of reporters across all four states, ensured fastest and most accurate coverage. CNN-News18’s presentation with engaging graphics and insightful explainers, simplified complex trends and data, making it easily comprehensible for the audience.
CNN-News18 is poised to further solidify its position as the unrivalled leader in viewership and comprehensive coverage. With an unparalleled line-up of Prime Time shows and top-notch anchors, the News18 Network delivers programs that offer unique perspectives backed by authentic news. The network’s expansive regional portfolio stands as the country’s largest, commanding leadership across diverse regions in India.
News Broadcasting
Network18 posts Rs 1,955 crore revenue, narrows FY26 losses
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.
