News Broadcasting
CNN-IBN & Indian Express team up for UP election coverage
MUMBAI: CNN-IBN and The Indian Express and the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) have joined hands to cover state elections in Uttar Pradesh. Special month-long programming titled ‘Battle for U.P’ on CNN-IBN will include live debates amongst various party leaders and prominent authorities; exit poll projections after each phase of polling and post-poll surveys – providing a holistic account of the electoral activities taking place in various parts of the state.
An editorial and marketing collaboration between the two news houses The Indian Express and CNN-IBN promises to provide the readers and viewers with the most up-to-date, comprehensive and precise news on all aspects of the election – from pre-polling, the actual ballot casting to post-poll results and developments, informs an official release.
The scope of the partnership entails The Indian Express featuring tune-in advertisements on the ‘Battle for U.P.’ programming along with regular extensive poll coverage on the days after it is aired on CNN-IBN.
In addition to daily news wheel stories the channel will also air a series of programmes dedicated solely to the elections. Some of them will include –
*A half hour special debate show from Lucknow on – whether the state’s capital is being left out from the rest of the country when it comes to economic and social growth – featuring some of the city’s most recognisable faces. The show will air on CNN-IBN on 27 April at 8:30 pm
*’Battle for U.P. exit poll special’ on CNN-IBN- will present the exit poll projections of that phase on 1 May.
*Similarly, on 8 May – the day of the last phase of polling – a one-hour special at 9:30 pm on CNN-IBN will be aired analysing and predicting the exit poll results.
*11 May will see live, day long special coverage of the UP ballot counting on CNN-IBN beginning from 7 am until at least 2 pm. Two more shows will follow in the evening.
Introducing the campaign, CNN-IBN and IBN 7 editor in chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, “The UP elections are without a doubt one of the most important state assembly elections taking place in the country this year and CNN-IBN will be present on location to bring their viewers the most up-to-date news and comprehensive analyses as and when they happen.”
Speaking on this significant alliance, CNN-IBN and IBN 7 director marketing and online projects Dilip Venkatraman said, “This coming together of the two biggest news brands to report on the U.P. elections is an all-encompassing approach that includes the best of both print and broadcast news. We are delighted to work together with The Indian Express on a property as important as this and hope for similar collaborations with them in the future.”
“It is a great pleasure to collaborate with CNN-IBN in bringing our readers the latest on the U.P. state elections. I am confident that our partnership will provide the most current and inclusive coverage on the event(s) along with reliable analyses of the post-poll results,” said The Indian Express head corporate business development Gautam Mukherjea.
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.
