News Broadcasting
Network18 keeps the news rolling as revenues buck ad slowdown in Q3
MUMBAI: When the ad market blinked, Network18 refused to. The broadcaster posted a resilient third quarter, with operating revenue from its news business rising 5 per cent year-on-year to Rs 500 crore in Q3 FY26, even as the wider TV news industry grappled with a double-digit drop in advertising demand.
Compared with Rs 477 crore in Q2 FY26, revenues were up 4.9 per cent quarter-on-quarter, underscoring Network18’s ability to steady the ship in choppy macro waters. For the first nine months of the financial year, news business operating revenue stood at Rs 1,408 crore, up 2.4 per cent year-on-year, despite a high base created by election-linked advertising last year.
Operating expenses grew in step but remained tightly controlled, rising 5.1 per cent YoY to Rs 489 crore in Q3. This helped operating EBITDA climb to Rs 11.8 crore, a sharp 60.7 per cent jump over the previous quarter, with margins improving to 2.4 per cent from 1.5 per cent in Q2.
The performance came at a time when ad inventory demand for TV news declined by over 10 per cent YoY. Network18 limited the impact through better inventory utilisation, supported by its diversified portfolio across languages and platforms and its strong leadership positions.
Commenting on the quarter, Network18 chairman Adil Zainulbhai said the group continued to defy industry trends despite a challenging macro environment, adding that government steps to boost consumption could eventually translate into higher advertising spends.
Beyond the balance sheet, the quarter saw strategic momentum. Network18 scaled up Creator18, its creator-led advertising vertical, to over 60 exclusive creators, with the top 10 delivering an unduplicated reach of more than 2 billion. Its first creator-driven TV show, Viral Baat Raunac Ke Saath, clocked over 3 million YouTube views.
Digital remained a strong growth lever. Moneycontrol doubled page views versus its nearest rival, crossed one million paid subscribers, and continued to build traction for its premium Super Pro offering. The network also renewed its partnership with CNN International for another 10 years, cementing its English news dominance.
On television, Network18 retained its crown as India’s number one news network, with viewership share rising 110 basis points YoY to 14.2 per cent. Across TV and digital, the group now reaches around 300 million users every month, while its 20-channel news portfolio connects with over 230 million TV viewers, roughly 45 per cent more than the nearest competitor.
In a year where advertising headwinds have tested the industry, Network18’s numbers suggest one thing clearly: the news may be tough, but the business of news is holding firm.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
