News Broadcasting
NDTV news biz net loss reduces as revenue up 19%
MUMBAI: Even amidst the sign of slowdown, NDTV‘s news business has seen an 18.99 per cent jump in the revenues in the quarter ended 30 September.
The standalone income from operations stood at Rs 810.9 million, as compared to Rs 681.5 million in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal. It is pertinent to note that NDTV had handed over its ad sales management to Star India in the first quarter of the fiscal.
NDTV, meanwhile, has curtailed its standalone net loss to Rs 107 million for the three-month period ended 30 September, compared with a net loss of Rs 342.7 million.
In the trailing quarter, however, the company had posted a net profit of Rs 98.1 million, as it took into account a dividend income of Rs 191 million from a subsidiary, NDTV One Holdings, and other operating income of Rs 71.7 million due to another subsidiary arm.
In the quarter under review, NDTV suffered a loss from operations (before other income, interest & exceptional items) of Rs 160.7 million, compared to a loss of Rs 298.3 million a year ago.
Expenses were kept in check and stood at Rs 983.1 million (from Rs 1.01 billion).
NDTV operates news channels NDTV 24X7 (English), NDTV India (Hindi) and NDTV Profit (English business).
On a consolidated basis, NDTV posted a net loss of Rs 220 million as against Rs 676.3 million in the year-ago period.
Operating loss of the company narrowed to Rs 190 million from Rs 660 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.
NDTV‘s total consolidated income jumped 32 per cent to Rs 1.14 billion, as compared to Rs 860 million a year ago. Expenses during the quarter fallen to Rs 1.33 billion, from Rs 1.52 billion.
NDTV had along with JV partner Kasturi and Sons, entered into an agreement with “Educational Trust Company Private Limited” for the sale of 100 per cent of their respective stakes in Metro Nation Chennai Television Limited for a consideration aggregating Rs150 million. Accordingly, the company disclosed that during the quarter, the Company has provided for doubtful debts and advances amounting to Rs 23 million and has written back provision for diminution in value of investment amounting to Rs 52 million, which has been shown as an “Exceptional item”.
Meanwhile, as part of the continuing process of simplification of the structure of the company‘s international holdings, NDTV (Mauritius) Media Limited has been merged with NDTV One Holdings Limited with effect from 30 September 2011. Further on 29 July 2011, the Company acquired 90.91 per cent stake in NDTV Worldwide Limited.
Consequently, NDTV Worldwide Limited has become a 100 per cent subsidiary of NDTV. On 31 October, the Board of Directors of NDTV (Mauritius) Multimedia Limited and NDTV Worldwide Mauritius Limited, have approved the merger of NDTV Worldwide Mauritius Limited with NDTV (Mauritius) Multimedia Limited, NDTV disclosed.
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.
