News Broadcasting
Mediapersons to get railway ID cum credit cards
NEW DELHI: The press would be able to take advantage of travel on railways through the use of photo identification cum credit cards based on the certification by the Press Information Bureau and other competent State and local authorities.
Until now, the mediapersons had to acquire coupons from the railways for concessions.
Presenting the Railway Budget for 2011-12, Rail Minister Mamata Banerjee said on production of this card, the Press Correspondents would be able to get reservation done and also tickets issued from the PRS/UTS counters.
Facilities would also be provided to get compact accommodation for both the Press Correspondents and their family members who are not availing this concession. In addition, concession of 30 per cent will be increased to 50 per cent for Press Correspondents and permission to travel with spouse at 50 per cent concession will be given for once a year, she said.
Meanwhile, she announced the setting up of an expert committee headed by Sam Pitroda, the key person behind the growth of telecommunication revolution in the country, to suggest further innovations, to utilise the optic fiber cables network of the railway and take information technology to the door steps in remote areas.
She said this was being done because there had been little progress after the announcement in the 2001-02 Railway Budget of laying of Optic Fibre Cable network along Railway track for commercial utilisation.
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.
