News Broadcasting
Chaurasia accepts DD News post
NEW DELHI: Didn’t we tell you about it even while others were only talking about it? Aaj Tak’s political editor Deepak Chaurasia has finally made up his mind to join India’s pubcaster Doordarshan. Chaurasia, the man whom TV Today Network (the parent company of Aaj Tak and Headlines Today) would have ideally liked to retain, will in his new avatar, be the consulting editor to DD’s proposed news channel, DD News.
However, the Election Commission is still to take a formal decision on a pre-elections relaunch, slated early November. Five states in India go to polls between November and December and EC may slap a ban on DD on the November relaunch, if it feels that it may amount to undue advantage to the government of the day vis-?-vis other political parties.
Talking to indiantelevision.com on the auspicious day of Diwali, Chaurasia said, “I would be resigning from Aaj Tak over the next few days to take up this new assignment (at the helm of DD News).” Pointing out that he does not foresee much problem with the relaunch of DD News — that may get delayed by a month or so, if EC sees red — Chaurasia added, “The agenda would be to make DD News as competitive (as other news channels). But these are still early days for me.”
Chaurasia was taken round the Central Production Facility (CPC) of DD in Delhi, from where most news bulletins are put out, on Diwali day by DD officials. Though nobody is speaking on the issue, the remuneration package of Chaurasia is said to be in the region of Rs. 1.5 lakh (Rs 1,50,000) per month, a substantial northward trek from his Aak Tak pay packet.
It is also being said that Chaurasia’s departure from Aaj Tak may have a cascading effect and four or five others too may leave with him. Aaj Tak, on its part, is playing it cool. Pointing out that Chaurasia was a competent professional, a senior executive of TV Today Network, however, admitted, “We are not in the (salary) `matching’ game. At the end of the day, it’s an individual’s decision.”
In the run-up to Chaurasia’s wooing by DD, several other names had been thrown up in the government and TV industry circles as the head of DD News, which may still continue to be run by government officials on deputation in Prasar Bharati. The other names that had been doing the rounds included those of former BBC man in India Satish Jacob.
Meanwhile, DD officials pointed out that till the time the news channel is not put back on air, Chaurasia is likely to undertake anchoring assignments on DD’s existing channels where the number of news bulletins are likely to be increased in the run-up to the elections.
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.
