News Broadcasting
I&B ministry to run an awareness campaign ahead of CAS rollout
NEW DELHI: Information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today assured fellow parliamentarians that the roadmap for CAS has been smoothened.
Apprising members of the Consultative Committee attached to his ministry on CAS and its effect on consumers, Dasmunsi enumerated the steps taken to put in place the mechanism.
According to the minister, regulatory framework related to tariff, transmission and other issues have been finalized and notified by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for smooth and successful roll out of the CAS by the stipulated date of 31 December 2006.
The committee was informed that the ministry would hold a month long campaign before the enforcement of CAS for enhancing consumer awareness.
Multi Service Operators and cable operators had to finalize their rate structure by 10 October, 2006 and inter-connect agreements have to be in place by 15 October, the minister informed the parliamentary panel.
The members of the panel were unanimous in suggesting that consumer interest should be “protected at all cost”.
Giving details of the measures already taken by TRAI and the regulatory framework for the purpose, the members were assured by Dasmunsi of all possible steps to ensure that consumers do not suffer in any way.
Those who attended the meeting included Kirip Chaliha, S. Mallikarjunaiah, Hannan Mollah, Mahendra Prasad Nishad, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Ramdas Athawale, Vijay J. Darda, Ajay Maroo, Shatrughan Sinha, Dara Singh, Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya, Ms Usha Verma, Ms Nirmala Deshpande and senior officials from the I&B ministry and Trai.
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.
