News Broadcasting
National Alliance of Journalists Unions condemns MIB notice to TV channels on Memon hanging
NEW DELHI: The National Alliance of Journalists Unions has endorsed the strong condemnation of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry show cause notice to three news channels – ABP news, NDTV and Aaj Tak – for their coverage of Yakub Memon’s hanging.
It also noted the prompt reaction of the Broadcast Editors Association on the issue.
Serious concern was expressed at the plight of journalists in TV networks also with the demand for the Working Journalists Act to be extended to the entire media. A doubling of unfair labour practices was taken note of.
Meanwhile, after nationwide consultations, the Alliance has demanded the setting up of a permanent wage fixation machinery for periodic revision of wages.
It has called upon the central and state governments to make non-implementation of the current Majithia Wage Board Award a cognizable offence taking in view large scale non-implementation.
The demand followed a national consultation with lawyers, academics, activists and journalists fighting cases for several years. The Alliance expressed solidarity with the 2 September action call by a wide amalgam of trade unions and resolved to join solidarity rallies.
The National Consultation was a united attempt by various bodies like the Press Club of India, Human Rights Law Network, Mumbai Press Club, Delhi Union of Journalists, Indian Women Press Corps.
The Alliance expressed solidarity with the National Confederation of Newspaper and News Agencies Employees and its attempts to widen unity.
The Alliance decided to have joint associate ties with the All India Newspaper Employees Federation, with which the Delhi Union of Journalists, which hosted the Alliance meet in Delhi, is already associated. The meet was attended among others by journalists bodies from Andhra Pradesh and Telengana.
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.
