News Broadcasting
Deepak Chaurasia plugs into Live Times: The original of Hindi TV news joins as director news
MUMBAI: In a move that’s making noise for all the right reasons, Live Times—the “Global Multicast News Hub”—has roped in Hindi TV’s firebrand journo Deepak Chaurasia as director news. Known for his bulletproof journalism and gritty reportage over three decades, Chaurasia is set to add some serious muscle to the channel’s editorial engine.
The man who’s covered everything from battlefields and bomb blasts to political fireworks and street protests is now bringing his fearless firepower to Live Times. With a career that spans war zones, natural disasters, the 26/11 terror attacks and the CAA storm, Chaurasia promises to turbocharge the channel’s motto of “Complete Truth, Whatever It Takes.”
“Deepak becoming part of Live Times means more fire to Live Times’ core value of Satyam Shivam Sundaram. At a time when TRP has overtaken truth, and noise has overtaken news, Deepak with Live Times would contribute towards reversing the trend of TRP over truth and fakes over facts,” said Live Times founder, CEO and editor in chief Dilip Kumar Singh. “With Deepak’s journalistic gravitas and ground-level connect with the viewers and users, Live Times is not just building a newsroom but, building a movement for truth-first journalism.”
“I have always believed in journalism that serves people, not agendas,” said Deepak Chaurasia. He further added, “Live Times is that rare newsroom today that prioritizes authentic, verified reporting over virality. I am thrilled to be part of a mission that champions factual storytelling, asks uncomfortable questions, and puts viewers and users at the center of news & information.”
In his new role, Chaurasia will helm a soon-to-launch primetime show that puts verified news and deep-dive investigations front and centre. Expect fewer shouting matches and more substance—with boots-on-the-ground reports, spine-straight journalism, and just enough spice to keep eyeballs glued.
Reporting directly to Dilip Kumar Singh, Chaurasia’s arrival signals a sharp pivot for Live Times—one that blends tech, talent and truth to create content that travels across borders and platforms.
From Bharat to beyond, Live Times wants to own the narrative. And with Chaurasia now in the front seat, the channel’s news caravan just got a serious upgrade.
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.
