News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18’s unveils 2nd season of ‘Future. Female. Forward’
Mumbai: CNBC-TV18, India’s No. 1 English business news channel, is excited to announce the second edition of CNBC-TV18’s Future. Female. Forward – The Women’s Collective presented by HSBC India. The season will kick-off with a dynamic launch event on 10th February 2024, in New Delhi, resonating with CNBC-TV18’s commitment towards celebrating female power and promote gender diversity and inclusivity in the business landscape.
The inaugural season of this initiative garnered appreciation and participation from India’s top policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and opinion leaders alike. Season 2 promises to take cause further to its goal through this integrated campaign consisting of sustained events, content, conversations, engagements, and partnerships. The mission is clear – Equitable Gain. Equal Participation. Infinite Growth.
The event will see a powerful leadership panel, inspiring fireside chats & keynotes, along with honouring remarkable achievers, called “The FFF ICONS”, who have shattered the glass ceiling and inspired millions across the nation. Notable names that will be present at the launch event include Smriti Irani, Minister of Women & Child Development of India; Amitabh Kant; Former CEO of NITI Aayog; Roshni Nadar, Chairperson of HCLTech; Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India; Ravi Kumar, CEO, Cognizant; Meera Shankar, Former Indian Ambassador to USA, Herve Delphin, EU Ambassador to India; Ravneet Kaur, Chairperson of the Competition Commission of India; Naina Lal Kidwai, Former President, FICCI; Commander Prerna Deosthalee from the Indian Navy; Col. Bindu Nair from the Indian Army, Tamil Nadu; Dr Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics; Nigar Shaji, Scientist at UR Rao Satellite Centre; Suman Nalwa, DCP & PRO, Delhi Police; Anil Chadha, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC Hotels; Kami Viswanathan, President – Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa, FedEx; Ghazal Alagh, Co-Founder, Honasa Consumer; Upasana Taku, Co-Founder of Mobikwik; Rani Rampal, Member, Indian Hockey Team & Coach; Hephzibah Pathak, Global Brand Director, Ogilvy & Mather among others.
The evening will commence with a spectacular musical performance by the Delhi Police’ award winning all-women band, who the caught the nation’s eye by their fantastic performance and display at this year’s Repulic Day parade. Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor, CNBC-TV18 will be doing the opening note for the event, followed by an inspiring keynote address by Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development of India, where she would deep dive into India’s alliance for global good and advancing gender equity & equality. The logo for Season 2 will be unveiled in a unique and grand fashion, showcased through a custom-made live plant version of the Future. Female. Forward. logo, symbolizing how this crucial movement is alive and thriving across the country.
The launch event will also see an insightful Fireside chats on crucial topics such as ‘Fostering Parity in the New World Order’, with Jenny Johnson, President & CEO, Franklin Templeton, and on “Championing Gender Inclusion” with Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India, in conversation with Shereen Bhan. The Leaders’ panel on ‘Bridging the Gender Gap: Strategies for Equality & Inclusion’ will see Hitendra Dave, CEO, HSBC India; Ravi Kumar, CEO, Cognizant; Kami Vishwanathan, President – Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa, FedEx and Anil Chadha, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC and Hervé Delphin, EU Ambassador to India share their insights and ideas on the topic.
CNBC-TV18 managing editor Shereen Bhan said, “CNBC-TV18 has been the leader in fostering & advancing conversations on gender parity, empowering female entrepreneurs and providing a playbook on creating an equal-opportunities workplace. With the second edition of Future. Female. Forward, our goal is to continue to showcase a diverse pool of women achievers and engage with leaders on the measures needed to create a more balanced & inclusive workplace. With Season 2, we aim to ignite conversations that lead to concrete actions for a more equitable future. We also plan to recognize and applaud the accomplishments of exceptional champions, the FFF Icons, who have broken barriers and stereotypes, and have inspired millions of women across the country to follow their dreams. “
HSBC India CEO Hitendra Dave emphasised, “Diversity and gender parity are vital for longevity, quality and business growth. At HSBC, we believe embracing inclusivity isn’t just about compliance, it’s about creating a culture where all individuals are valued and empowered. With supportive policies, inclusive workplace cultures, societal awareness and overcoming personal biases, we can wholeheartedly embrace gender parity and foster innovation. By prioritizing diversity, companies can tap into a wealth of perspectives and experiences, driving innovation and success in today’s dynamic marketplace. We are delighted to partner with CNBC-TV18 to play the role of a Catalyst to make gender parity a reality for the larger community.”
Network18 CEO- Business News Smriti Mehra, said, “The second edition of Future. Female. Forward Season 2 plans to explore solutions to create a gender-equitable workforce for women, sparking conversations that bring diverse perspectives and value to every individual. This season is all about taking inspiration and turning it into action, as it is our endeavour to make the world a more inclusive space for all. It’s not just a continuation but a big step forward, a sign for all of us working together to create a world where everyone, regardless of gender, has an equal and fair chance. We would like to thank our partners HSBC India, HCLTech, ITC and FedEx for associating with us on this meaningful initiative.”
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.
