News Broadcasting
Maharashtra’s vision for growth unveiled at Zee 24 TAAS ‘एक पाऊल पुढे’ conclave
Mumbai: Maharashtra solidified its reputation as a progressive leader in India during the successful ‘महाराष्ट्र – एक पाऊल पुढे’ conclave, organised by Zee 24 TAAS. The event brought together the state’s top leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss Maharashtra’s pivotal role in driving India’s economic, social, and cultural growth. The conclave spotlighted Maharashtra’s pioneering strides in infrastructure, youth development, and entrepreneurship, positioning the state as a national frontrunner.
Esteemed guests, including cabinet minister for school education, Deepak Kesarkar and Marathi Language, excise minister Shambhuraj Desai, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, MD of Mumbai metro rail corporation Ashwini Bhide, and others, took the stage to outline Maharashtra’s forward-looking strategies.
Kesarkar shared a vision for the state’s future, stating, “Maharashtra’s youth are our greatest asset.” He stressed the importance of “skill development, job creation, and upskilling” in preparing a competent workforce. Ashwini Bhide underscored Mumbai’s infrastructure upgrades, particularly the Metro 3 project, calling it “a lifeline redefining urban mobility” and marking “the beginning of a new era of connectivity for the state.”
Shinde praised Maharashtra’s leadership in infrastructure, technology, and investment. “Maharashtra continues to lead in every metric – FDI, the startup ecosystem, or industrial development. From the coastal road to bullet trains, we are relentlessly working to make Maharashtra India’s most business- and citizen-friendly state,” he remarked.
The conclave also addressed Maharashtra’s status as India’s entertainment capital, along with its initiatives in education and youth empowerment. Zee 24 TAAS, officiating editor Kamlesh Sutar said, “The ‘महाराष्ट्र – एक पाऊल पुढे’ conclave showcases the state’s visionary leadership. Zee 24 TAAS takes pride in being a platform that highlights Maharashtra’s transformative work.”
Zee Media Corp Ltd CEO Abhishek Singh added, “We have always championed growth-centric journalism. This conclave reinforces our mission to spotlight Maharashtra’s efforts in fostering innovation, equal opportunities, and economic growth.”
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.
