News Broadcasting
Barun Das honoured as ‘World’s Best Leader’ at WCRCLEADERS GLOBAL Summit
Mumbai: TV9 Network, India’s largest television news network, has undergone a profound and disruptive transformation that has propelled it far ahead of traditional industry stalwarts. The network’s exceptional evolution has been recognized with two prestigious awards at the WCRCLEADERS GLOBAL Summit in London, hosted by the World Consulting & Research Corporation International (WCRC).
TV9 Network managing director & CEO Barun Das, received the prestigious ‘World’s Best Leader’ award from Baroness Sandip Verma and Baroness Pola Uddin at the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster. Additionally, News9 Plus, TV9 Network’s groundbreaking News OTT platform, was honoured with the title of ‘World’s Best Brand’ in News Media 2023.
Expressing his gratitude for this prestigious honour, Das said, “Running a news network is an incredibly challenging endeavour, perhaps the most complex aspect, is that a news channel is considered the fourth estate. Balancing the responsibility of being a watchdog of democracy while running a profitable business is a formidable challenge. We must generate profits to sustain our operations and provide deserving journalists with the recognition and rewards they deserve for upholding their journalistic principles. These factors collectively make our roles incredibly demanding, and I am honoured to represent my team here today. A leader is only as good as their team, and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to WCRC for this recognition.”
As the distinguished recipient of the ‘World’s Best Leader’ 2023 award, Das now enters an exclusive league of exceptional leaders who have demonstrated unparalleled leadership skills, propelling their organisations to unprecedented levels of success. His innovative strategies and transformative leadership have not only fueled the growth of his own company but have also left an indelible mark on the industry at large. Das, also co-presented the lifetime achievement award to Lord Swraj Paul along with WCRC editor-in-chief Abhimanyu Ghosh.
In addition to celebrating Das’s remarkable achievements, his brainchild, News9 Plus, has received the prestigious ‘World’s Best Brands 2023’ recognition in the Media industry category. This accolade underscores News9 Plus’s unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity, quality reporting, and serves as a testament to its consistent dedication to excellence, innovation, and the mission of providing accurate and timely news coverage that informs and engages a global audience.
The momentous occasion of the WCRCLEADERS GLOBAL Leaders’ Summit and Awards took place on Thursday, 5 October, 2023, at the prestigious Peers Room, located within The House of Lords at The Palace of Westminster in London.
This year’s summit centred around the theme ‘One Earth. One Family. One Future,’ emphasising the profound interconnectedness of our world and how it generates fresh opportunities for global business, concurrently fostering the reduction of tensions and the promotion of international trade.
Notably, the Peers Room at the House of Lords reached maximum capacity as attendees gathered to celebrate the award winners. Esteemed guests from various countries graced the occasion, further enhanced by the presence of several prominent British ministers, Lords, Baronesses, and distinguished individuals. Their participation elevated the WCRCLEADERS GLOBAL Leadership Summit to unprecedented levels of excellence.
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.
