News Broadcasting
Narayan Rao elevated to NDTV Group CEO
MUMBAI: NDTV Limited has elevated its executive director KVL Narayan Rao to group CEO. In his new role, which is effective immediately, Rao will oversee the businesses of the NDTV Group in India and abroad.
Rao will be responsible for ensuring that the business aspirations of the group are met and that NDTV becomes a global Indian media brand, recognised all over the world for its ethics, high standards and achievements, a company release says.
Rao has been with NDTV since 1995 and has played a key role in the transition and growth of NDTV from a production house to a broadcaster. In his earlier role as director, he was responsible for human resources, administration and operations of the company.
The NDTV Group is expanding both its news and non-news business, which will be overseen now by Rao. He will oversee the implementation of a common code of conduct across the group companies and ensure that the group adheres to the highest standards of corporate governance.
Said NDTV Ltd chairman Prannoy Roy, “With Narayan’s rich experience in media broadcast and his leadership experience, he is the best person to steer NDTV in its rapid growth phase. His strong execution skills, his understanding of the organisation’s culture and his personal integrity make him an obvious choice.”
“It’s a huge privilege and a great honour and I am delighted to get this opportunity to play a role in NDTV’s future,” Rao said.
Rao started his career as a journalist with the Indian Express. Thereafter, he joined the Indian Revenue Service and served in different roles, including deputy commissioner of income tax and deputy secretary in the ministry of defence. Rao has a Masters degree in English Literature. He has also graduated from the National Academy of Direct Taxes and has a management diploma in public finance from IIAP/ENA, Paris. He represents NDTV on several international bodies.
News Broadcasting
Network18 trims FY26 losses as Q4 revenue touches Rs 1,955 crore, 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.
