News Broadcasting
NDTV 24×7 to sport more biz news
NEW DELHI: Its official and confirmed.
The Prannoy Roy family-controlled NDTV has decided to give CNBC TV 18 business channel some competition by ramping up business and economy related programming during the day time on NDTV 24×7. The change would be effected during the first quarter of 2004.
The time band that the English-language NDTV 24×7 is looking at doing so would be between 9 am and 5 pm. We would be increasing business-related programming on the English channel during day time in the next two to three months time, a NDTV source told indiantelevision.com.
The reason behind the decision is that NDTV feels that, presently, there are several news breaks relating to business and economy during the day, which require extensive as well as intensive coverage. However, the source clarified that this programming strategy should not be construed as conversion of NDTV 24×7 into a business channel during the daytime or as a precursor to the launch of a full-fledged business channel in the near future.
We have seen that our existing business programming on the channel is quite popular and focussing on it more extensively would make sense, the source said. Even when this strategy is put in place, the general news bulletins would continue to be aired during a large part of the day.
Though this initiative would also mean coming up with newer business and economy programming, details of the new fare likely to be introduced are not yet forthcoming. A media analyst, however, opined that knowing Dr Prannoy Roys background in economics, it would be nave to presume that this game plan is being effected sans a viewership feedback, a definite strategy and well defined targets. Lot of thought process seems to have gone behind this proposed move, the analyst said.
What could have also prompted NDTV 24×7 to increase its business programming during the day is the bull run being experienced on the stock market, riding a buoyant Indian economy, for the past several months. When asked whether this experiment would also be carried out on NDTV 24x7s Hindi sibling, NDTV India, the company source said, It has to be seen how this change works out for the English channel before we start thinking of doing something similar on the Hindi channel.
On a jocular note, the source added, As they say, slowly, slowly catch the monkey.
NDTVs new programming strategy comes at a time when Television Eighteen Ltd, the majority Indian joint venture partner for the CNBC TV 18 channel, has publicly said it is working on starting a full-fledged Hindi business channel. In addition to this, the Subhash Chandra-promoted Zee Telefilms is still awaiting a final word from the government on its proposal, seeking uplink permission from the Indian government for its ZeeBiz channel. Not to mention the noises being made by the Dhoots-controlled Videocon group for the last one year on the proposed launch of a Hindi business channel.
The word on the capital markets street is also that NDTV, which is seeking to merge with itself a subsidiary, NDTV World, may make an announcement over the next few months about going public through a mega public issue.
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.
