News Broadcasting
NDTV Battleground: Decoding Maharashtra’s political landscape
Mumbai: NDTV’s legacy program Battleground is back with Sanjay Pugalia, editor-in-chief, NDTV Network at the helm. The platform delves deep into the intricacies of seat distribution in upcoming elections, challenges for the current government and the opposition, and much more with the foremost experts in the field. The first episode, brought together a panel of esteemed experts to dissect the dynamics shaping the electoral battleground in Maharashtra, just a month before the elections.
The discussion, aired on 18 March 2024, offered invaluable insights into the current political scenario, policy perspectives, growth indicators, and challenges confronting both the ruling coalition and the opposition in Maharashtra. With two significant political realignments in the past three years, including the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, the state’s political landscape has witnessed considerable shifts, setting the stage for a fiercely contested electoral battle.
The panelists engaged in a robust exchange of ideas and analyses, covering a wide array of topics crucial to understanding Maharashtra’s electoral dynamics. From the impact of electoral bonds on political funding to the intricacies of affordable housing projects and the imperative of cooperative federalism, the discussions provided a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted issues influencing voter sentiments and electoral outcomes.
Notable highlights from the discussion include observations from political strategists like Amitabh Tiwari, who emphasized the complexity of voting behaviour and the significance of late deciders and floating voters in shaping election results. Chief economist of Axis Bank Neelkanth Mishra stressed on the importance of infrastructure development in driving growth and addressing key challenges such as unemployment, while political analyst Manisha Priyam shed light on the evolving perceptions of leadership and governance among voters. Understandings from panelists like Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mutual Fund, added depth to the discussion, highlighting the imperative of both cooperative federalism and competitive federalism in driving growth and development. His remarks emphasized the significance of fostering collaboration among states whilst promoting healthy competition to spur progress.
Insights from senior journalists Rohit Chandavarkar and Sandeep Shastri further enriched the discussion, with Chandavarkar highlighting the pivotal role of Maharashtra as a deciding state due to its substantial electoral representation, and Shastri laid impetus on the standing of states like Maharashtra in reflecting the national mood.
The panelists’ diverse perspectives and expert analyses underscored the nuanced nature of Maharashtra’s political landscape, characterized by a blend of regional dynamics, socio-economic factors, and ideological considerations. As Maharashtra braces for a pivotal electoral contest, the discussions on #BattlegroundOnNDTV provided stakeholders with valuable insights to navigate the complexities of the state’s political terrain.
For further updates and in-depth analysis, viewers can tune in to NDTV for comprehensive coverage of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and stay informed about the latest developments shaping Maharashtra’s political landscape. Up next, NDTV heads towards Battleground Karnataka in the coming week.
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.
