News Broadcasting
Network18 knocks out Times Internet to seize undisputed digital news crown
MUMBAI: Network18 has steamrolled its competition. According to the March 2025 ComScore rankings, the media giant decisively surpassed Times Internet, securing pole position across India’s digital news landscape.
The ComScore MMX Report on total digital population (social+native) revealed that Network18 clocked an eye-watering 315 million unique visitors (UVs)—a towering 55 per cent lead over Times Internet’s 202 million UVs.
The message is clear: Network18 reigns supreme.
News18.com delivered a commanding performance too, registering 251 million UVs and eclipsing The Times of India’s 183 million UVs, cementing its spot as India’s most consumed digital news brand.
On social media, Network18’s dominance grew even starker. As per the ComScore Media Metrix Social report, it achieved 54 per cent penetration within India’s 389 million social media population, boasting twice the reach of its closest rival, TV9 Network.
Even stripping out social media traffic, Network18 led from the front. In the News and Information category, the group recorded 183.2 million UVs against Times Internet’s 182.3 million, maintaining its lead purely through news consumption strength.
Network18’s Indian language news sites also flexed their muscles, posting 182 million UVs and underlining its unmatched regional reach.
Beyond digital, Network18’s television empire continues to dominate. CNN-News18 has held the number one English news slot without interruption for three consecutive years, while News18 India has been the most watched Hindi news channel across time bands for two years running.
This comprehensive leadership across digital, social, and television platforms confirms Network18’s standing as the most influential, far-reaching, and trusted news network in the country.
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.
