News Broadcasting
Network18’s financial performance reflects mixed trends amidst restructuring
MUMBAI: Network18’s financial results for the year ended 31 March 2025 present a complex picture, marked by operational challenges and the impact of strategic restructuring activities. The company has reported a net loss, but this is juxtaposed with substantial gains from exceptional items.
Revenue from operations shows a slight decrease, indicating some pressure on the company’s core business activities.
* Revenue from operations increased to Rs 1,896.21 crore from Rs 1,817.73 crore in the previous year.
* The primary component, value of sales and services, was Rs 2,206.87 crore, compared to Rs 2,114.86 crore in the previous year.
* Other income contributed a smaller amount, Rs 16.75 crore, down from Rs 18.70 crore.
Expenses increased, impacting profitability.
* Total expenses rose to Rs 2,197.81 crore from Rs 2,086.95 crore.
* Key expense categories include:
o Operational costs: Rs 402.66 crore (previous year: Rs 381.35 crore)
o Marketing, distribution, and promotional expense: 478.24 crore (previous year: Rs 428.12 crore)
o Employee Benefits Expense: Rs 729.99 crore (previous year: Rs 702.68 crore)
o Finance costs: Rs 213.42 crore (previous year: Rs 186.20 crore)
o Depreciation and amortisation expense: Rs 121.66 crore (previous year: Rs 101.02 crore)
o Other expenses: Rs 251.84 crore (previous year: Rs 287.58 crore)
The company’s profitability was affected, but exceptional items provided a substantial offset.
* Profit/ (Loss) before exceptional items and tax was a loss of Rs (284.85) crore, compared to a loss of Rs (250.52) crore in the previous year.
* However, the company recorded exceptional items of Rs 3,498.21 crore.
* This resulted in a profit/ (loss) before tax of Rs 3,213.36 crore, compared to Rs (250.52) crore in the previous year.
* After accounting for tax, the profit/ (loss) for the Period/Year was Rs 3,213.36 crore, compared to a loss of Rs 185.41 crore in the previous year.
The composite scheme of arrangement involving Viacom18, Digital18, and Star India has significantly reshaped the company’s structure. The sale of shares in Indiacast Media Distribution Private Limited and changes in the shareholding of Viacom18 contributed to the exceptional items.
Network18’s financial performance reflects a period of transition.
(updated 19 April at 11:40 am)
The company issued a press release on 19 April which reads as follows:
MUMBAI: Network18 Media & Investments Ltd’s standalone operating revenue for the news business rose 4.3 percent to Rs 1,896 crore in the year ended March 31, while operating EBITDA nearly doubled to Rs 33 crore, led by tight cost control, stronger ad pricing and viewership gains.
Growth in operating EBITDA was aided by its expanding viewership and gains in advertising pricing. The network continued to lead in Hindi, English, and Business News segments, while also rising to leadership in Marathi and Bengali markets.
In the fiscal fourth quarter, the company reported an operating EBITDA of Rs 13 crore for its standalone news business, showing resilience amid a subdued advertising environment and a high base from election-driven revenues a year ago. EBITDA margin widened to 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter from 2.2 percent in the preceding three months. Standalone operating revenue rose 9.5 percent quarter-on-quarter to Rs 522 crore. Operating expenses rose 3 percent to Rs 508 crore from a year earlier.
Q4 Standalone loss narrows
The company posted a standalone loss of Rs 69 crore for Q4 FY25. That compares with the Rs 31 crore loss in the year-ago period. Total standalone income stood at Rs 524 crore, up from Rs 484 crore in Q3 but lower than Rs 537 crore in Q4 FY24. The quarter saw muted advertising spends across the TV news industry, with inventory consumption falling 15 percent YoY, although the company maintained traction in digital ad revenues.
Network18 ended the year as India’s top TV news network with a 14.1 percent all-India market share and a weekly reach of over 180 million viewers. Viewership share rose 330 basis points year-on-year, driven by strong gains in regional markets. News18 Lokmat and News18 Bangla climbed to the number 1 position in their respective states, while News18 Kannada emerged as a strong number 2, more than doubling its market share. Moneycontrol, continued to strengthen its position. Moneycontrol Pro remained India’s largest subscription-based financial platform, crossing over 1 million paid subscribers and ranking among the top 15 globally.
The company also retained leadership in key national genres with News18 India as the top Hindi news channel, CNBC-TV18 leading the business news space, and CNN-News18 topping English news.
The company’s consolidated financials reflected the impact of its restructuring deal involving Viacom18, Digital18, and Star India. Network18 recorded an exceptional loss of Rs 1,436 crore on the consolidated books due to the derecognition of Viacom18 as a subsidiary and sale of Indiacast. This led to a consolidated net loss of Rs 1,777 crore for FY25 despite strong operating performance in the core news segment.
Chairman Adil Zainulbhai said: “We are really happy to end the fiscal on a strong note as the largest news network in the country on all fronts—viewership share, audience reach and language footprint. Despite short-term macro headwinds, we are confident in the company’s long-term growth trajectory.”
News Broadcasting
BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in biggest overhaul in 15 years
Cost pressures and leadership change drive major workforce reduction plan
LONDON: BBC has unveiled plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs, roughly 10 per cent of its global workforce, in what marks its biggest downsizing in 15 years.
The announcement was made during an all-staff meeting led by interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies, as the broadcaster moves to tackle mounting financial pressures and reshape its operations.
Between 1,800 and 2,000 roles are expected to be eliminated from a workforce of around 21,500. The cuts form part of a broader plan to save £500 million over the next two years, aimed at offsetting rising costs, stagnating licence fee income and weaker commercial revenues.
In a communication to staff, BBC interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies said, “I know this creates real uncertainty, but we wanted to be open about the challenge,” acknowledging the impact the move would have across the organisation.
The restructuring comes at a time of leadership transition. Former director-general Tim Davie stepped down earlier this month, with Matt Brittin, a former Google executive, set to take over the role on May 18, 2026.
While some cost-cutting measures are being implemented immediately, the majority of the structural changes are expected to roll out over the next few years, with full savings targeted by the 2027–2028 financial year.
The broadcaster had earlier signalled its intent to reduce its cost base by around 10 per cent over a three-year period, warning of “difficult choices” as it adapts to shifting economic realities and audience expectations.
With operating costs hovering around £6 billion annually, the BBC’s latest move underscores the scale of the financial challenge it faces, as it balances public service commitments with the need for long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
