News Broadcasting
iTV Network ups Varun Kohli as India News CEO
MUMBAI: iTV Network has elevated Varun Kohli as CEO of its national Hindi news channel India News. Prior to this, he was India News COO and revenue head.
Kohli will report to iTV Network group CRO and NewsX CEO Sanjay Dua.
In his new role, Kohli will be responsible for leading the growth of the channel to next level.
iTV Network managing director Kartikeya Sharma stated quite clearly: “We are delighted to elevate Varun as the CEO of India News. This elevation is in line with our commitment to growth. His skills and wide experience will surely help India news reach the next level of growth.”
Dua added, “Over the course of time, Varun has played a more central role in the leadership of the company and with his elevation to CEO, India News; he will take on an even wider role. His strong track record of delivering growth and understanding of industry will help our continued success, moving forward.”
“I’m humbled by the new role. iTV network is a young and dynamic organisation, which has witnessed tremendous growth in the recent years and I am privileged to be a part of this journey. My focus will be to lead India News to the next level of growth and tap newer opportunities in the ever expanding Hindi news space,” expressed a reticient Kohli.
Prior to joining ITV network, he was head of sales for IBN7. With a professional experience spanning over 21 years, he has worked in media companies like Amar Ujala, Bennett, Coleman & Company Ltd., Deccan Chronicle, Dainik Bhaskar, Hindustan Times and Indian Express. All his experience will come to bear at the iTV Network which has ambitions to grow in the news television and related TV businesses going forward.
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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.
