News Broadcasting
Festive cheer in news organisations as pay cuts are reversed
NEW DELHI: Months after the Coronavirus reared its ugly head and made a shambles of the economy, the news industry is slowly coming out of the woods. This is apparent from the fact that several news organisations have reversed pay cuts that were introduced with the onset of the Covid2019 pandemic. Some players have even announced appraisals for their staff, making the festive period brighter.
Here's a look at the news media groups who signalled 'all is well' with the business through their recent actions:
1. NDTV
NDTV said on Tuesday that it ended the pay cuts of its employees with effect from October 1. The network had slashed salaries by 10-40 per cent on a graded scale based on different slabs with effect from 1 April 1 2020. Employees earning Rs 50,000 or less per month were exempt from any pay cut.
2. India Today Group
India Today Group promoted several key people within the organisation and also announced appraisals for the staff. Vice chairperson Kallie Purie said, “I am looking forward to our annual exercise that acknowledges merit and hard work. So, a big shout out to the efforts of our salesforce heroes that are making this financially viable and allowing me the privilege to declare appraisals. I have sanctioned the encashment of up to 15 days of accumulated leave for all employees. Those not eligible or those who don’t want leave encashment could choose a Diwali voucher.”
3. The Indian Express Digital
The digital arm of the Indian Express group also reversed the temporary pay cut that was announced in April for its employees. As per reports, the staff took up to 30 per cent pay cut in their monthly salaries in the wake of the pandemic.
4. Network18
Reliance Industries Ltd, which owns and manages the Network18 Media, announced the rollback of salary cuts in October. The conglomerate also said it would be handing over performance bonuses that were deferred when businesses took a hit at the outset of the Coronavirus-fuelled lockdown. Reportedly, the group had enforced pay cuts between 10 and 50 per cent for its employees across businesses.
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.
