News Broadcasting
NDTV pivots to live entertainment with star-studded concert series
NEW DELHI: NDTV, India’s three-decade-old news broadcaster, is striking out into uncharted territory with the launch of NDTV Good Times, a live entertainment venture that promises to bring marquee musical acts to iconic venues across the country.
The move marks a bold departure for the Delhi-based media house, which has built its reputation on hard news and current affairs. Now it is betting that India’s youthful demographics and growing disposable income will fuel demand for premium live experiences.
The inaugural lineup reads like a who’s who of Indian music. AR Rahman will perform at Varanasi’s sacred ghats along the Ganges, while Sonu Nigam plans a tribute to legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi at Kashmir’s Dal Lake. The roster also includes composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and popular singers Jubin Nautiyal and Neha Kakkar.
“NDTV has always stood at the intersection of storytelling and society,” said chief executive and editor-in-chief Rahul Kanwal. The company aims to “curate iconic performances that will not just entertain but also inspire, connect, and create lasting memories.”
The venture taps into a global trend where live entertainment has become a cultural force, particularly among younger audiences who prize authentic, shared experiences over passive consumption. India, with one of the world’s youngest populations, appears ripe for such offerings.
NDTV’s strategy leverages its existing broadcast and digital infrastructure to amplify these events beyond their physical venues. The company has partnered with ticketing platform District to handle bookings and logistics.
Rahul Shaw, the newly minted chief experiences officer, positions the initiative as “reimagining the heartbeat” of Indian culture by combining top-tier talent with extraordinary settings.
The move comes as traditional media companies worldwide grapple with changing consumption patterns and seek new revenue streams. Whether NDTV’s gamble on live entertainment pays off will depend on its ability to translate its storytelling credibility into successful event curation—and whether Indian audiences are ready to pay premium prices for the privilege.
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.
