News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18 launches new show on business beyond the metros
MUMBAI: CNBC-TV18 today announced the launch of Awaaz, a bilingual new series that focuses on business away from the metros, in the small towns, in booming mini metros, and in the heartlands of India.
The first episode of Awaaz will air on Saturday, 7 February at 6.30 pm with a repeat telecast on Sunday at 8 pm.
Set in the heartlands of India, Awaaz is a 30-minute weekly show that captures small, unusual business opportunities and addresses consumer issues. The approach of the whole show is similar to that of a catalogue. The information is very ‘detailed and micro’. It is not about concepts and opinions, it’s more ‘facts’, ‘ground realities’ and tells you how to execute and run a successful business
An official release informs that an inherent feature of the show is that it is an interactive forum for people to call and get their queries answered from the experts in the studio. The show, therefore, is actually driven by what the viewer wants and inviting feedback and comments is another regular feature of the show.
Said CNBC-TV18 VP sales and marketing Saikumar, “Awaaz is simply a reflection of our belief and knowledge, that business is no longer an urban or a localised phenomenon. It is clear today for everyone to see that the business and entrepreneurial spirit is sweeping all parts of the country. Awaaz is a tribute to that spirit. The series is also an indicator of the growing reach and influence of CNBC-TV18 in small towns and non metro regions of the country. We believe that this show fills a unique need gap and will be appreciated by audiences across the nation.”
The highlights of this show are as follows:
* Highlights of business opportunities, preferably entrepreneurial in nature.
* Case studies that explore business and the consumer, beyond the metros and get the picture in other buzzing commercial centres of India.
* Interviews that give a first-hand view of someone in a particular business and through his/her experiences highlight the core elements of the business.
* Viewers call-in and talk directly to an industry leader or business veteran and get answers to all kinds of queries on how to start, sustain and grow a business.
* Pressing ‘consumer issues and concerns’. All the help consumers need to make informed decisions on everything from home loans and property loans to buying second hand cars and more.
* The Launchpad segment, which talks about new products and deals in the market.
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.
