News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18’s Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective’s Leadership Circle Explores the ‘Road Less Travelled’,
Mumbai: Building on the success of Season 2’s launch in New Delhi and the Leadership Circle in Mumbai, CNBC-TV18 is thrilled to announce the Bengaluru Edition of the Future. Female. Forward: The Women’s Collective – Leadership Circle presented by HSBC India on May 31, 2024. This significant initiative aims to make gender parity an inevitable reality. Exploring the theme of ‘Road Less Travelled’, the Leadership Circle aims to bring forward inspirational stories of women achievers who have broken barriers, to the forefront. For over a decade, CNBC-TV18 has been a purpose-driven brand committed to promoting gender equality in the workplace and its positive impact on the economy and national growth. The Leadership Circle will convene a curated group of women leaders from diverse fields to share their challenges and journeys, fostering inspiration and progress.
Renowned for its vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and culture of innovation, Bengaluru serves as an ideal destination for inspiring change & advancing our mission with this city chapter. This exclusive event promises to transcend the conventional boundaries of business discussions and professional accolades, offering a unique platform for women leaders from diverse fields. Attendees will uncover the insightful journey of trailblazers, exploring the personal and professional paths taken by these remarkable women.
The speaker line-up includes Hitendra Dave, CEO of HSBC India; Kavita Shenoy, Founder and CEO of Voiro; Nandita Sinha, CEO of Myntra; Sahar Mansoor, Founder of Bare Necessities; Vaishali Kasture, Co-Founder of SonderConnect; Piyush Chopra, Vice President of Chairman’s Office, Reliance Industries; Shalini Kapoor, Chief Technologist APJ of Amazon Web Services; Lathika Pai, Country Head – Venture Capital and Private Equity Partnerships, Microsoft; Pavitra Shankar, Managing Director of Brigade Group; Dr. Meeran Chadha Borwankar, IPS Officer; Megha Asher, Co-Founder & COO of Juicy Chemistry; Anisha Padukone, CEO of The Live Love Laugh Foundation; MS Vinutha Rao, Sr. Vice President of HCLTech; Kavita Chaturvedi, COO of Snacks Business, ITC Foods; Malini Adapureddy, Founder & CEO of Deconstruct, and Vidya Shah, Musician & Singer.
The evening will feature engaging sessions and focused conversations delving into the journeys of these inspiring women leaders, uncovering untold stories. The event will commence with an opening address by Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor of CNBC-TV18, followed by a keynote address from Hitendra Dave, CEO of HSBC India. Taking forward the theme for the evening, ‘The Road Less Travelled, a special chat with Dr. Meeran Borwankar, IPS Officer, and Anisha Padukone, CEO of The Live Love Laugh Foundation would throw spotlight on their insightful journeys. This will be succeeded by a panel discussion on “Breaking Barriers, Bridging the Gap” followed by a special interaction titled “The Founders Forum; Dream Catchers”. Vidya Shah, a renowned singer, and musician, will mesmerize the audience with her performance and the evening will conclude with dinner and networking.
Talking about the Bengaluru Leadership Circle CNBC-TV18 managing editor Shereen Bhan said, “Bengaluru, the OG of India’s Startup ecosystem, serves as the ideal setting for this edition of Future. Female. Forward’s Leadership Circle. Our goal is to foster a community where women leaders can share their unique startup stories and insights. By bringing together diverse voices, we aim to inspire a new wave of leadership that transcends traditional boundaries and empowers more women to realize their full potential. This event is a celebration of the resilience of women in leadership roles.”
HSBC India CEO Hitendra Dave elaborated, “Encouraging diversity in the workforce is crucial for innovation and sustainable growth of a business. At HSBC, we believe it is a part of who we are, and our priority is to create a workplace that welcomes and promotes inclusivity. Platform’s like “Future Female Forward’s Leadership Circle” can play a significant role in advocating diversity by showcasing inspiring stories of successful women leaders. By highlighting their achievements and journeys, it motivates others to break barriers and strive for success regardless of gender. Embracing diversity not only fosters a more inclusive workplace but also drives positive change and progress in society as a whole.”
Network18 CEO of Business News Smriti Mehra said, “As we gather in Bengaluru, a city synonymous with innovation and progress, we are reminded of the critical role that gender parity plays in shaping a prosperous economy. CNBC-TV18 has always been at the forefront of promoting gender equality, and through this Leadership Circle, we aim to highlight the transformative impact of women in leadership roles. Our sessions will explore the personal and professional journeys of these remarkable women, offering invaluable insights and inspiration for all attendees.”
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.
