News Broadcasting
ET Now Swadesh announces ‘Swarna Mahakumbh’ initiative
Mumbai: Marking the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, ET NOW Swadesh, the leading Hindi Business News Channel, announces ‘Swarna Mahakumbh’, a first-of-its-kind initiative empowering viewers on gold investments. Airing on 10 May from 4pm – 7pm, the three-hour mega initiative, will feature 22 renowned industry experts and analysts engaging in dynamic discussions, offering their insights on various types of gold investments including gold exchange-traded fund (ETF), gold funds, gold bonds, gold derivatives, and methods and precautions of gold jewellery investments.
Led by ET Now and ET Now Swadesh editor-in-chief Nikunj Dalmia along with a team of seasoned financial and business journalists including anchor & senior news analyst Vishwamohan Kumar, news editor Abhishek Satya Vratam, anchor, senior news editor Kavita Thapliyal, anchor, news analyst Srishti Sharma and seputy news editor Prashant Pandey.
‘Swarna Mahakumbh’ initiative entails the following segments:
Is It The Right Time To Invest In Gold? (4pm – 5pm): This segment focuses on the rationale of investing in gold & its returns, analysing the current industry rates of gold. Panellists include industry leaders like Suvankar Sen (MD, Senco Gold & Diamonds), Vikram Dhawan (head of commodities & fund manager, Nippon India Mutual Fund), Jay Prakash Gupta (founder, Dhan and o-founder, Raise Financial Services), Harshal Barot (senior consultant, Metals Focus Limited), Kishore Narne (director, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd) and Kirit Bhansali (vice chairman, Gem Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).
Gold Investment Option (5pm – 5:30pm): This segment delves into intricacies of investment vehicles such as Gold bonds, Gold ETFs, digital Gold, physical Gold, and Gold Mutual Funds, offering valuable insights into each avenue’s potential and considerations. Esteemed panellists include Saiyam Mehra (chairman, All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council). Dr.Renisha Chainani (head of research, Augmont), Mahendra Luniya (chairman, Vighnaharta Gold Ltd), Harshal Barot (senior consultant, Metals Focus Ltd), Manoj Kumar Jha (MD, Kamakhya Jewels Pvt Ltd),
The ABCD Of Gold Jewellery Shopping (5:30pm – 6:00pm): Featuring industry experts, this comprehensive segment is dedicated to all facets of jewellery investment. From navigating the options for investing in physical gold to essential tips and pitfalls to avoid, this session with panellists Saiyam Mehra (chairman, All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council), Ashish Pethe (partner, Waman Hari Pethe), Sabyasachi Ray (ED, Gem Jewellery Export Promotion Council) and Rajesh Rokde, (vice chairman, All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council) will serve as an invaluable guide for anyone considering a gold purchase.
Gold F&O Classroom (6:00pm – 6:30pm): Step into the Gold F&O Classroom for a master class on navigating the intricacies of trading in gold Futures and Options (F&O) and the process of delivery through exchange. Panellists Shivanshu Mehta (Director, India International Bullion Exchange IFSC Ltd and Bullion Head, MCX), Anuj Gupta (Head of Commodities Research, HDFC Securities), Bhargava Vaidya (Proprietor, B.N. Vaidya & Associates) and Sunil Katke (Head Commodities Retail Business, Kotak Securities) will offer valuable insights on the gold derivatives market, to elevate the gold trading journey of viewers.
Viewers Queries on Gold (6:30pm – 7:00pm): This interactive Q&A segment will empower discerning viewers of all ages and professions get simplified answers to their queries on the various avenues of gold investments. Panellists Ajay Kedia (founder, director of Kedia Advisory), Vandana Bharti (AVP, Commodity Research, SMC Global Securities Ltd), Anand Gupta (Haripriya Jewellers) and Ravindra Rao (commodity expert) will provide expert insights and guidance.
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.
