News Broadcasting
Manish Tewari does not endorse internet policing
NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting (I&B) minister Manish Tewari feels that those who insist on privacy and the right to use new media on the internet should understand that while the government does not favour policing, the users themselves have to show a certain sense of responsibility while going on the social space.
Speaking on freedom of expression in the internet age at a function here last night, Tewari said that there is a need to draw a line between policing and freedom of speech and expression adding that the right to online privacy and anonymity should come with accountability. He also defended the government for policing of online content that it deemed “defamatory”.
The minister also feels that there should be agreed global rules of engagements in this new media space to prevent misuse.
“We do not believe there should be a regulation or policing of the internet but common rules of engagement need to emerge in the new media space also because it is a virtual civilisation which has its own dynamics,” said Tewari
He referred to the recent riots in Muzaffarnagar where he claimed that a video posted on YouTube had flared up the entire incident. He also referred to the mass exodus from Bangalore of people hailing from the northeast from southern states last year after rumours of attack on them spread.
The rules of engagement are important because hardware responsible for dissemination of information over the Internet may not be under the control of a state at whom it is targeted. He said this as he noted that the cyber world has the potential to inflict destruction though it enables grassroots democratisation.
He sought the views of stakeholders on the role that a government can play when people fan violence through new media.
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.
