News Broadcasting
Centre not in hurry for 100 per cent FDI in news: Javadekar
MUMBAI: While general entertainment channels enjoy the liberty of having 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), News channels are restricted to having just 26 per cent. With a new government at the center, all eyes are on the new Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar to bring in some changes.
A pertinent question asked by journalists to Javadekar was regarding the same. According to a PTI report, he is said to have assured journalists that his Ministry is busy collecting views of the stakeholders related to the issue of allowing 100 per cent FDI in News media.
“We want to take the views of all the stakeholders before we take a final decision if we should give a go-ahead for the 100 per cent FDI in News media. We are not in a hurry to go for the same,” he said to PTI.
On the sidelines, he also addressed the issue of paid news stating that a meeting of the council of ministers will be held soon to discuss the matter. Highlighting two types of paid news, Javadekar said, “The first one is related to the elections, the other one was directly connected to the privately-owned business newspapers.” He added that a final meeting of the committee on paid news will be held today of which he is also a member.
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.
