News Broadcasting
News18 Hindi dominates election coverage, secures top spot
Mumbai: As per the latest ComScore data, News18 Hindi has secured its position as the number one digital news platform for the Hindi language in April 2024, beating other Hindi platforms.
At a whopping 57.7 million Unique Visitors (UVs), News18 Hindi grabbed the top spot.
An ad campaign has been launched across print and digital media to highlight the platform’s power-packed performance. As part of this campaign, a front-page advertisement was issued in The Economic Times on May 27, underscoring News18 Hindi’s leadership.
News18 Hindi’s remarkable accomplishment can be attributed to its comprehensive coverage during the election season. The platform reached audiences nationwide with its in-depth coverage of important election-related topics from various viewpoints.
Commenting on the remarkable performance, News18 Network CEO – Indian Languages Mitul Sangani said, “We owe our position as the leading Hindi news platform to our dedicated viewers, who made us their first choice during this crucial election season. Our viewers’ trust drives us to persistently enhance our coverage and deliver news that not only informs but also empowers. News18 Hindi’s extensive coverage of Lok Sabha elections with a commitment to accurate information, in-depth analysis and product enhancement strengthened our performance. We are confident that the numbers will continue to grow as we enter the counting phase of elections.
News18 Network is an undisputed leader in terms of viewership both on TV and digital platforms. With the undivided attention of viewers in every segment, the group has emerged as the go-to source for news. ComScore Mobile Metrix, custom list on Hindi News Publishers. Apr 2024.
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.
