News Broadcasting
Can media reporting hamper due course of law, asks Bombay HC
NEW DELHI: The Bombay high court has sought written submissions from all parties regarding the adverse effects of media reporting on any investigation and the court’s own jurisdiction in such cases, in the ongoing case of PIL against media trials. The case has been pushed to 6 November for further hearing.
Stating that the court wants to give guidelines with respect to interference during investigation prior to the filing of the charge sheet, the bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice GS Kulkarni sought answers on the issue of if the media should report responsibly keeping in mind the facts.
Regarding the reporting on ‘accused’, the court asked if trial by media would lead to interference in deciding whether an accused goes for trial or not; accused being on guard or tampering with evidence; tarnishing of reputation in case of an innocent person, et al.
It also asked, “Can you guarantee a police officer will not be influenced by media statements like ‘this is not the right track for investigation’ and then start hounding an innocent person?"
Read our coverage on the Sushant Singh Rajput case
The court has also directed the parties to answer if the sensationalised reportage in the Sushant Singh Rajput case amounted to a media trial and whether the court can intervene in such matters.
The bench noted, “Let us not be blinded by precedents. Come to the bare facts, let us know the boundaries of our own jurisdiction.”
The court also showed concern for the safety of the witnesses and if media trial can force them to turn hostile.
The court also opined that if the media wants to aid in the investigation, it can do so under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure by giving information with the police.
At its last hearing, the Bombay high court said it may have to lay down guidelines to check the rash of media trials 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.
