News Broadcasting
India TV emerges as the No 1 Hindi news channel during recent counting day
Mumbai : Over the years, the media industry has been in a state of constant flux. From the perspective of the user, news consumption and delivery patterns have shifted. As a result, news outlets have expanded across multiple platforms. According to Comscore’s January 2023 report, India’s Total News Internet Audience is 440 million.
India TV has seized this opportunity to become the undisputed leader (number one) in providing Hindi news in the country.
According to the most recent Barc, India TV had the highest viewership during the Northeast elections (Counting hour between 7am – 1pm).
Speaking about this feat, India TV chairman Rajat Sharma said, “There needs to be a realization that it is the user who is now shaping the demand for content. They have the freedom to decide how, when, and where to consume the content. Hence, news channels must focus on creating fluid strategies that focus on personalization and content customisation.”
In comparison to its competitors, India TV had a gross average minute audience (AMA 000s) of 3,117. News 18 India came in second with a gross AMA 000 of 2,990, followed by Aaj Tak with an AMA 000 of 2,645 and TV9 Bharatvarsh and Republic Bharat among 15+ HSM viewers between 7am and 1pm.
Furthermore, India’s first RPD data from Airtel Xstream confirms that India TV is the most popular Hindi news channel. According to RPD data, among the top 5 SD Hindi News Channels, India TV led with 29.7 per cent relative share on the most recent counting day, followed by Aaj Tak with 24.7 per cent, R Bharat with 16.0 per cent, ABP News with 15.6 per cent, and Zee News with 14.0 per cent.
Regarding numbers, Sharma said, “This is a validation of our strategy. Over the years, we have made a huge effort to redefine our content strategies i.e., take a data driven approach towards analyzing viewership. My belief is that the only constant in the media industry, moving forward, will be change. Hence, as a response, news channels need to constantly reinvent themselves to stay relevant.”
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.
