News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18 to premiere ‘The Lounge’
MUMBAI: Of late, CNBC TV-18 has been exploring its softer side. The latest launch to join the business channels lifestyle segment is The Lounge.
An engaging new series, as the channel calls it, will discover a different facet of the most interesting and talked about personalities and cruise to the elite parties in the town. Hosted by actor Simone Singh, the show will premiere on 5 June 2004 at 10:30 pm.
The presenting sponsors of The Lounge are Liberty and associate sponsors are Bacardi Blast cassettes and CDs.
A weekly show, the lifestyle special will feature a Focus Interview. Singh will engage in an exclusive tete-e-tete with interesting, intelligent, multidimensional individuals from the corporate and celebrity world. The up, close and personal interviews will showcase the guest’s unknown facets as they speak about their real-world experiences and inspirations.
The show will highlight the fact that in spite of being in a corporate 9-to-5 job or profession, an individual can still do the things that he / she enjoys and is passionate about, thereby breaking the stereotypical image most of us have of people in the corporate / celebrity world, says the release.
The next segment on the show is christened Hip & Happening. It is touted as the perfect guide to the most “in” party places in town- Filmi parties/ birthday and anniversary bashes/ launch parties et al.
Speaking on the occasion, CNBC-TV18 spokesperson said, ” The Lounge is a show conceptualised to add to its repertoire of newer and distinct programmes catering to its discerning audiences. The other feature shows include Auto Show, Goodlife show, Storyboard, Trendmill and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, which provide for innovative and intelligent viewing.”
In its inaugural week, Singh will meet up with first time MP, Milind Deora and perky filmstar Perizaad Zorabian, as they discuss politics, films, heartaches, and heartbreaks, adds the release.
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.
