News Broadcasting
DB Corp announces 20 per cent hike in ad rates for My FM
Mumbai: DB Corp has announced a 20 per cent increase in ad rates on My FM across its key markets with effect from 15 February.
My FM has witnessed an increase in demand in its key markets which has resulted in an opportunity for the radio broadcaster to increase ad rates and reflect its strong positioning in these markets. “The key markets of My FM have been witnessing a strong uptick in growth, as economic activity is returning to normal after the second wave last year. In addition, businesses across sectors are looking to increase their return on investment and get the most out of their advertising budgets,” said the statement.
“We are seeing renewed vigour in advertising revenues, almost all categories are back on radio for their advertising needs especially in tier 2 and 3 markets where radio has always been very effective in hyper-local connect and have bounced back to pre-Covid levels,” said My FM CEO Rahul Namjoshi. “Over the last few months, we have witnessed significant demand in advertisements and consequently rising inventory pressure. Our priority has always been to deliver innovative content to our listeners and it is in our best interest to keep the listening experience and advertisers’ interest in perfect harmony. The price hike will help us to continue offering an enjoyable listening experience for our listeners and deliver stronger RoI for advertisers.”
DB Corp is one of India’s largest media companies and home to flagship newspapers such as Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar as well as its radio network My FM.
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.
