News Broadcasting
Headlines Today claims to be climbing popularity charts
MUMBAI: ‘We are making headlines!’ Or so claims Headlines Today. India Today’s English news channel claims that they have been providing relevant information in a format that is tailor-made to suit the needs of the time conscious viewer and resulting in a fillip in the audience loyalty for the channel.
Quoting the Tam figures for the week 39, Headlines Today claims that they command 35 per cent market share in prime time amongst the English news channels in six metros. The ratings, as quoted in a company release, equals that of NDTV 24X7 and likes of CNN, BBC and CNBC are trailing behind. According to the release, the channel has managed to score an ace over rest owing to their quality news programs, strategically slotted and timed, have climbed their way up the TRP ladder and are giving stiff competition to established channels
The flagship programmes that have helped the channel are Head Start, Top 5, and Sports Quarter, which have emerged leaders in their time-band across other English news channels. While Head Start, slotted in the morning band, provides news to the professional in a compact 15 minute wheel, Top Five Today satiates the viewer by providing the top five developments of the day. Sports Quarter, a fifteen minute program repeated twice a day throughout the week gives news on sports.
According to the release, Head Start has gained popularity as it provides all the news in a compact 15 minute wheel. The prime time programming Top Five Today has helped the channel equal viewership to the India Business Hour on CNBC and the 9 o’clock news on NDTV 24X7. Meanwhile, Sports Quarter’s viewership is equal to combined viewership of NDTV 24X7 and CNBC for the same time slot
In addition to that, Headlines Today has programs designed specially to be aired during the India-Australia series. Cricketing Icons Sourav Ganguly and Shane Warne share their views exclusively in Captain Speak, and Warne’s Spin on select match days. The other programs which have been lined up for the series are Final Frontier and Wisden Show, which has helped the channel solidify its position in the news channel genre.
The channel, claims the release, has many other programming initiatives in the pipeline that are due to roll out in the next one month.
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.
