News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18 launches ‘Expectations 2004’
MUMBAI: CNBC-TV18 announced the launch of Expectations 2004 yesterday which is a comprehensive on-air, on-ground initiative that will analyse the government’s economic policies in the short term, gauge the mood of the nation and measure the gap between industry aspirations and economic reality.
Expectations 2004 will give viewers an accurate picture of the economy and will analyse the implications of impending policy decisions for the common man and for industry leaders, thus helping them take better informed business and economic decisions.
The highlights of this comprehensive initiative are:
The Vote on Account Speech by the Finance Minister
One of the highlights of Expectations 2004 will be the Vote on Account speech by the Finance Minister, with exhaustive insights and analysis. The Live coverage of the Vote on Account on 3 February included the live telecast of the FM’s speech, interview with the FM, interviews with Finance ministry officials, in-studio discussions with industry leaders and economic experts (Naina Lal Kidwai, Uday Kotak, Ashok Wadhwa, Ravi Mohan, Mahesh Vyas and more) and regular updates and bulletins throughout the day.
Expectations Roundtables
Three on-ground exclusive roundtables will bring together industry heads, policymakers and experts to understand how the economic momentum can be sustained, and what might be the economic implications of the elections.
Industry Verticals
Eight on-ground verticals in five different cities will highlight key industry expectations and chart direction for sustained growth in the industries in the coming year. Also to be telecast on the channel at a later date.
Voice of the Common Man
An interactive, call-in on-air show where CNBC’s anchors and analysts will answer pressing consumer questions on the economy and gauge the demands and aspirations of the common man.
Mood of the Nation
Capsules that will highlight sound bytes from industry leaders and the lay consumer, giving an indication of the mood of the nation.
Speaking about the major initiative CNBC-TV18 vice president sales and marketing Saikumar said, “Expectations 2004 will give the viewer a realistic, accurate and insightful picture of the economic state of the nation, given that elections are impending and the gains of the previous year need to be consolidated and built upon this year. This, we believe, is a “can’t miss” initiative for the business consumer: from the retail investor in Cochin to the agricultural entrepreneur in Nainital, from the management student in Ahmedabad to the professionals and CEO’s in Mumbai, from the housewife in Kanpur to the foodgrains retailer in Kolkata, this is an initiative significant for all of these and more.
“Expectations 2004 will also be a platform for reaching the voice of industry to policymakers and help bridge the gap between industry demands and economic policy dictates.” Microsoft, Life Insurance Corporation and HDFC Bank will be partnering with CNBC-TV18 in this initiative.
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.
