News Broadcasting
Gaurav Sawant steps up to prime time, anchors India First on India Today TV at 8 pm
MUMBAI: India Today TV is sharpening its prime-time edge. Starting 28 April 2025, Gaurav Sawant, one of Indian journalism’s most battle-tested voices, will anchor India First at 8 pm, replacing Newstrack in the coveted slot.
Known for his fearless field reporting, Sawant has covered India’s defining moments, from the Kargil War and Kandahar hijack to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Uri, Pulwama, Nagrota, and the India-China Galwan standoff. His journalism has taken him deep into conflict zones across Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Ukraine, and Israel, not to mention terror attacks in London and Bangalore.
Sawant’s frontline credentials are unmatched. He earned Para Wings from the Indian Navy after completing five para jumps, including an assisted free fall from a Sea King helicopter at INS Dega-a rare honour for a civilian journalist—and has completed eight para jumps in total.
His commitment to telling India’s stories runs deep. As the author of ‘Dateline Kargil: A Correspondent’s Nine-Week Account’ from the Battlefront, and the creator of the Veergatha series on Param Vir Chakra awardees for schoolchildren, Sawant has consistently placed service above self, even refusing government remuneration for projects honouring India’s bravest.
“India Today’s vibrant and democratic newsroom has always built its own leaders, training, trusting, and empowering talent ready to take charge,” the network said in its announcement.
Now as managing editor, Sawant brings a clarity of purpose and credibility to India First, promising reportage rooted in fact over frills—a reflection of the same values that have defined his storied career.
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.
