News Broadcasting
Dr Deepak Chopra explores happiness on Duologue with Barun Das Season 2 CTV premiere
Mumbai: Barun Das and Dr Deepak Chopra embarked on a profound dialogue about the intersections of well-being, leadership, and modern challenges, in the CTV premiere of the third episode in Duologue with Barun Das Season 2.
The eagerly anticipated third episode of ‘Duologue with Barun Das’ Season 2 premiered on India’s only 24×7 digital English news livestream, News9 Live, at 9 pm on the 1 June 2024. The episode featured Barun Das, MD & CEO of TV9 Network, and the internationally acclaimed author and wellness guru, Dr. Deepak Chopra engage in a profoundly cerebral conversation on the meaning of happiness, tradition, leadership and more.
In a compelling back-and-forth, Das and Dr Chopra delved into the intricacies of modern life, discussing contemporary sources of stress and the transformative potential of well-being practices. Dr Chopra, known for his profound insights and holistic approach, shared his perspective on the current state of the world, describing unhappy people as “victim(s) of the hypnosis of social conditioning.”
Dr Chopra’s insights offer a refreshing take on leadership and personal growth. “In my life, I’ve used only two formulas: pursue excellence and ignore success,” he revealed in a candid moment. The conversation explored the challenges of engaging people with transformative ideas and the significance of joy in personal and professional life.
Both visionary thinkers, Dr Chopra and Das dived deeper into the ambiguous concept of happiness, with each sharing their understanding of what it was, the importance of measuring it, and the different formulas that could be used to calculate it.
Touching on neuroplasticity, Dr Chopra advocated for traditional activities that foster creativity, such as listening to music, engaging with nature, and reading fiction. “Rote work doesn’t encourage neuroplasticity. It’s simply the recycling of collective consciousness,” he explained.
The Duologue also touched on the evolving role of AI in creativity and well-being, with Das delineating the significance of left-brain and right-brain activities, while Dr Chopra emphasized the limitations of artificial intelligence and the importance of traditional activities that foster creativity. “AI will never be fundamentally creative but can solve routine problems,” he asserted.
Duologue host Barun Das resonated with Dr Chopra’s views, expressing his non-conformist stance regarding traditions, which he said he considers vestiges of a bygone era that no longer align with contemporary realities.
The episode offered a glimpse into the profound wisdom of Dr Chopra and his visionary approach to well-being and leadership. Following this episode, ‘Duologue with Barun Das’ continues to bring thought-provoking conversations to audiences on Saturday the 8th of June at 9 pm, this time with an episode featuring India’s most iconic golfing legend, Jeev Milkha Singh, exclusively on News9 Live.
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.
