News Broadcasting
Network18 reports improved numbers for Q1
BENGALURU: Network18 Media & Investments Ltd (Network18) reported year over year (y-o-y) growth in consolidated operating revenue for the quarter ended 30 June 2018 (Q1 2019, quarter or period under review) as compared to the year ago quarter (Q1 2018). The company reported consolidated operating profit (EBITDA) of Rs 18 crore in Q1 2019 as compared to a loss of Rs 2 crore during the corresponding year ago quarter. Consolidated operating revenue grew 10 percent y-o-y during the quarter under review to Rs 1,124 crore from Rs 1,025 crore in Q1 2018 on a comparable basis.
Network18 chairman Adil Zainulbhai said: “We have begun the new fiscal with improved viewership across our portfolio, which shall be the foundation for our growth plans. We continued investments in regional news and entertainment and in digital. We continue to see opportunities in the media space.”
TV18 Broadcast Limited
TV18 Broadcast Ltd (TV18) is the listed Network18 broadcast subsidiary and the largest contributor to its numbers. Its consolidated revenues increased 11.1 percent y-o-y in Q1 2019 to Rs 1,088 crore from Rs 979 crore. TV18 consolidated operating profit (EBITDA) almost tripled (2.79 times) y-o-y to Rs 39 crore in Q1 2019 as compared to Rs 14 crore.
TV18’s growth in revenue was led by Viacom18 and Indiacast revenue for which climbed by Rs 73 crore (a little less than 10 percent) y-o-y during the quarter under review to Rs 832 crore from Rs 759 crore. The company’s business and general news had revenue growth of 14 per cent (Rs 20 crore) y-o-y in Q1 2019 at Rs 173 crore as compared to Rs 153 crore. Regional news (Ex Lokmat) and infotainment had revenue growth of 24 per cent (Rs 16 crore) during the quarter under review at Rs 83 crore as compared to Rs 67 crore in Q1 2018.
In its investor update, Network18 says that TV18’s subscription revenue increased 10 percent y-o-y during the period under review to Rs 301 crore from Rs 273 crore in Q1 2018.
Growth in operating profit (EBITDA) was led by business and general news with 25 per cent (Rs 7 crore) y-o-y growth at Rs 35 crore in Q1 2019 as compared to Rs 28 crore in Q1 2018. Viacom18 and Indiacast had 13 per cent y-o-y growth in operating profit at Rs 26 crore from Rs 23 crore in Q1 2018. Operating loss of regional news (Ex Lokmat) and infotainment declined to Rs 22 crore in Q1 2019 from operating loss of Rs 37 crore.
The numbers mentioned above have been obtained from TV18’s Investor update. It may be noted that Viacom18 and Indiacast became subsidiaries of TV18 from 1 March 2018. Hence, reported financials of TV18 consolidate these entities only from that date. Other y-o-y numbers are not comparable.
“Our television channels reach out to 700 million people across the country, making every 1 in 2 Indians our consumer. We have 53 domestic channels across news and entertainment, making us a formidable player. The improving advertising environment and our rising viewership are positives, as we continue investing into growing our offerings across genres,” said Zainulbhai in a TV18 investor update.
Network18 Digital, Print and others
Network18 Digital, Print and others revenue declined 22 per cent y-o-y in Q 2019 to Rs 36 crore from Rs 46 crore in the year ago quarter. Operating loss (EBITDA) increased to Rs 21 crore from Rs 16 crore.
News Broadcasting
Rising Bharat Summit 2026 spotlights India’s global ascent
PM Modi keynotes two-day event with ministers, diplomats and icons in New Delhi.
MUMBAI: India didn’t just host a summit, it threw a coming-out party for a nation ready to own the global stage. The News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, held on 27–28 February in New Delhi, emerged as a high-octane platform for ideas, vision and strategic dialogue, uniting national leadership, global policymakers, industry titans, defence strategists and cultural icons under the theme “Strength Within”.
Prime minister Narendra Modi set the tone with a keynote that framed India’s resurgence as a reclaiming of lost potential built over generations. “In previous industrial revolutions, India and the Global South were merely followers,” he said. “But in the era of Artificial Intelligence, India is a partner in decisions and shaping them.” He highlighted the country’s thriving AI startup ecosystem and the recent AI Impact Summit attended by over 100 nations.
Union minister Piyush Goyal (Commerce & Industry) stressed India’s readiness to scale exports and deepen manufacturing, while Ashwini Vaishnaw (Railways, I&B, Electronics & IT) positioned technology and infrastructure as twin engines of growth, especially in AI and digital trust. Jyotiraditya Scindia (Communications & North East Development) revealed India’s ambition to lead in 6G through the Bharat 6G Alliance and partnerships with over 30 countries.
Global voices added depth: former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo called India’s development “self-sustaining” and strategically vital; ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter asserted India deserves a seat at the great powers’ table; and former US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined ambassadors from Norway, Germany and Sweden in discussions on geopolitical realignment, sustainability and defence preparedness.
Other speakers included veteran investor Ramesh Damani, World Gold Council CEO David Tait, Vianai Systems founder Dr Vishal Sikka, DeepTech Bharat Foundation co-founder Shashi Shekhar Vempati, defence experts Rajesh Kumar Singh, Sunil Ambekar, Patrick McGee, Tom Cooper and Adrian Fontanellaz, plus cultural and sporting icons Kangana Ranaut, Saina Nehwal, PR Sreejesh, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mithali Raj, Anil Kapoor and Yami Gautam.
The summit was supported by Jio Financial Services (Presenting Partner), Phonepe and DS Group (Co-Presenting Partners), Pernod Ricard India and Kia Seltos (Powered By & Driven By), state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand (State Partners), and associate partners including NSE, M3M Foundation and Reliance Industries.
Broadcast live across News18 Network, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz, the event reinforced India’s image as a confident democracy and emerging global power proving that when strength comes from within, the world can’t help but watch.
