News Broadcasting
IBN7 gears up for Bihar elections with special programming
MUMBAI: Bihar’s political landscape has witnessed a lot of changes over the last one and a half years. And thus, the upcoming assembly elections in the state are sure to grab a lot of eyeballs.
With a number of critical issues to be raised and discussed before people take their call at the elections, not just Bihar but the entire nation will have their eyes trained to observe the developments.
To cater to the national viewers in getting a clearer picture of the general public opinion in Bihar before the elections, and raising the right questions for the people in Bihar, IBN7 has lined up content heavy programming on what is happening at ground zero.
From the state and its policies in the last year and a half, updates on the election buzz, insights into the general condition of the people, inferences on how the political parties are strategizing in Bihar, the expected alliances to how the candidates from each party is fairing – the channel’s upcoming programs give an informative count down to the Bihar elections.
The programming will consist of a detailed analysis of the political scenario through a variety of shows including Chaupals from 30 different constituencies of Bihar, daily shows consisting of news updates of Bihar elections and special debates with the channel’s deputy managing editor Sumit Awasthi. Polling and counting day coverage includes ground report and discussions on the exit poll.
The shows lined up by the channel will run till 8 November. These include:
Bihar Mange More, which will be aired daily at 1 pm, Bol Bihar Bol to be aired every Sunday at 6 pm, Patliputra Ka Mahasangram – Chaupal Special will be aired from Monday to Saturday at 6 pm. On the other hand, Patliputra Ka Mahasangram – Big Debates Special with Sumit Awasthi will be aired every Sunday at 8 pm.
Patliputra Ka Mahasangram – Polling Days Special will be aired through the day on 12, 16 and 28 October as well as on 1 and 5 November.
Patliputra Ka Mahasangram – Counting Day Special will be aired through the day on 8 November.
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.
