News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Bihar Diamond States Summit, showcasing key leadership insights
Mumbai: News18 India successfully hosted the Bihar edition of the Diamond States Summit in Patna, providing a platform for robust discussions on the state’s future. Following previous successful editions in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra, this summit featured prominent political leaders and policymakers from Bihar, who shared their views on the state’s progress, law and order, and upcoming challenges.
Attendees included key figures like minister of industries & tourism, Nitish Mishra, secretary-environment, Bandana Preyashi , Chairman – RERA, Vivek Singh , Deputy CM of Bihar Vijay Kumar Sinha, food and consumer protection minister, Leshi Singh, JDU National President and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha, minister of urban development & housing Nitin Nabin , and BJP MLA Shreyasi Singh.
Sinha made a powerful statement: “Those who once disregarded Gandhi’s principles are now forming parties in his name. Prashant Kishor may claim to build leaders, but in Bihar, true opportunities come to those who selflessly serve the people. Under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, law and order have been restored, and Bihar’s growth is flourishing under the BJP. In contrast, alliances with the RJD lead to chaos. Those who give tickets to criminals have no moral ground to speak on crime. We reject opportunistic politics.”
Bihar’s water resources minister, Vijay Chaudhary, addressed the recent flooding concerns, saying, “The people of Bihar will once again bring Nitish Kumar to power. Prashant Kishor’s statements hold no weight. His call to end liquor prohibition isn’t aligned with true public welfare. This year’s unusual floods, exacerbated by record rainfall in Nepal, have made minimising damage and delivering relief our top priority. Pappu Yadav’s accusations are baseless, and the Bihar government is excelling in its relief operations.”
Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary added, “Organised crime once flourished under Laloo Ji’s leadership during the RJD regime, and it’s disheartening that the same family now speaks on the issue. Nitish Kumar’s decision on prohibition is historic. Prashant Kishor’s use of Gandhi’s name for political gains is regrettable. Though the floods were caused by Nepal’s heavy rains, our robust preparedness ensured Bihar remained stable.”
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha praised Kumar, noting, “Nitish Kumar has transformed Bihar into a recognised brand, and the state is advancing rapidly. His efforts in developing the Darbhanga Airport and restoring Bihar’s historical glory are commendable. Under his leadership, significant progress has been made in infrastructure, power, and law enforcement, and Bihar is poised to rank among the top 10 states in the future.”
The summit concluded with optimism, as leaders discussed a forward-thinking vision for Bihar’s development, with an emphasis on collaboration between policymakers and industry experts to shape the state’s future trajectory.
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.
