News Broadcasting
IBN7 to launch ‘Gujarat Chunav – Satta Nau Sangharsha’
MUMBAI: IBN7 has tied up with Divya Bhaskar for a show ‘Gujarat Chunav – Satta Nau Sangharsha’ on Gujarat assembly elections. The month-long show, kicking off on 14 November, starts with findings of an opinion poll conducted by Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
As a part of the show, interactive live debate sessions, ‘Kyun Chune Aapko?’ will be conducted on a daily basis in 15 different towns and cities across Gujarat and aired on 5:30 pm election special shows. Featuring various party leaders and prominent authorities, the discussions will take up issues pertinent to the state.
From 26 November to 13 December extensive programming run of half-hour shows daily will provide a comprehensive step-by-step account of the entire election process from the pre-polling phase, the actual ballot casting to the post-poll results.
As a special segment in the 8:30 pm series, ‘5 Saal 5 Reporter’, five IBN 7 reporters will revisit the worst riot affected areas of Gujarat.
The exit poll surveys will be conducted throughout Gujarat on the day the state goes to vote. IBN 7 will telecast special half-hour shows from 11 to 16 December at 8 pm to track and project the nature of voting in the state and the likely winner.
On 23 December IBN 7 will have a one-hour special show in the evening. It will discuss and analyse the election results and the implications for the state and nation.
IBN 7 managing editor Ashutosh said, “The Gujarat state elections are undeniably one of the most anticipated polls of the year. Therefore, with ‘ Gujarat Chunav – Satta Nau Sangharsha’ IBN 7 will be on location to provide its viewers the latest news from ground-zero, including in-depth analyses of all developments occurring during the electoral process. ”
CNN-IBN and IBN 7 director marketing and online projects Dilip Venkatraman said, “Our editorial and marketing partnership with Divya Bhaskar for this extensive initiative will ensure maximum reach and visibility of our campaign by going beyond television to include print.”
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.
