News Broadcasting
CNN-News18’s ‘Virtuosity with Vir Sanghvi’ to feature Sanjaya Baru
MUMBAI: In this week’s episode of Virtuosity, Vir Sanghvi will be seen talking to Sanjaya Baru, a veteran journalist and media advisor to former prime minister Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2008.
The episode will air on 12 November at 10 pm with a repeat at 10:30 am and 7:30 pm on Sunday.
On the show, he talks in-length about his new book and rejects all accusations that have been built around Vinay Sitapati’s biography on Narasimha Rao, alleging that there has been a systematic attempt in Lutyens’ Delhi to constantly talk about Chandraswamy, Harshad Mehta and communalism to erase and undermine the legacy of PV Narsimha Rao. He added that history will be kinder to Rao.
A national bestselling author of his book The Accidental Prime Minister, he has recently released his new book 1991 How PV Narasimha Rao Made History to mark the 25 anniversary of liberalization of the Indian economy.
The weekend show features a big news story and provides added context, insight and nuance that may not be immediately discernible. The show will have Sanghvi, in his inimitable style, break down the story being featured and make it relevant and relatable for the viewers. He will present the facts, make use of history, use a lifetime of his personal experiences to break through the clutter and bring forth the key aspects of the story.
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.
