News Broadcasting
NDTV’s Chennai news channel to be called NDTV Hindu; launch on 16 May
MUMBAI: The NDTV joint venture Chennai city-based English news and entertainment channel with The Hindu is titled NDTV Hindu.
As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com, the channel will launch on 16 May.
The free-to-air channel will be aired on two leading multi-system operators – SCV and Hathway Cable & Datacom.
With a tagline “Nonstop programmes for Nonstop Chennai,” the channel will cover breaking news and current affairs as well as user-friendly information on the hottest eateries, latest gizmos in town and best shopping and hangout destinations in the city.
Announcing the launch, NDTV Ltd chairman Prannoy Roy said, “We firmly believe that the future of news is in going local. The Hindu Group with its impeccable credentials has been a household name for generations in Chennai and this partnership will help NDTV Hindu to capitalise on the brand strengths and journalistic values of both the media houses.”
The Hindu editor-in-chief N Ram added, “Chennai is fast evolving as a cosmopolitan city. Though there are a few Indian language channels that exist for local news, yet there is no English channel catering exclusively to this vibrant city. With NDTV’s strong television broadcasting and editorial capabilities, NDTV Hindu will bring out the true flavor of the city through its high-end content.”
The channel will invite students from Chennai schools for the weekly show titled I Spy with My Digital Eye where they will be taught how to make films, all caught on camera. The channel will also offer a show for shopaholics called Super Shopper that will introduce Chennaites into the world of style and glamour as the show hosts travel to city boutiques, stores, malls and even the footpath to check out the best deals and sales. Shift Focus, on the other hand, will showcase who went where over the weekend, what’s the latest show in town and latest updates on exhibitions, night dos & book launches within Chennai and around the state.
Jennifer Arul, managing editor and COO of the channel, will round up the day’s happenings in and around the city and national news of importance in Night Vision.
As the launch is coinciding with the counting day, Arul will start with the election special Night Vision with Media Development Foundation chairman Sashi Kumar for a detailed analysis of the 15th Lok Sabha results.
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.
