News Broadcasting
News18 lines up non-stop programming ahead of Ram Temple inauguration
Mumbai : News18 India, the country’s number one Hindi news channel, is set to host a mega-celebration of the inauguration of Ram Temple with its special programming, titled ‘Shree Ram Mahaparv’.
In the run up to the inauguration on 22 January, the channel has significantly enhanced its programming. News18 India’s popular show, ‘Bhaiyaji Kahin,’ will embark on a journey to Ayodhya, engaging with locals to capture the ground sentiment. A special 1 hour documentary, ‘Ramlala Virajman,’ will be aired on the channel, featuring stories related to Lord Ram from various places in Ayodhya.
It will include insights from spiritual leaders such as Jagadguru Shri Ram Bhadracharya, Sadhvi Ritambhara, Jagadguru Mithilesh Nandini Sharan, Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, ShriDharacharya, among others.
The channel is also creating a setup on the banks of Sarayu River in Ayodhya, referred to as ‘Ram ki Paidi,’ as well as other significant locations in Ayodhya, to deliver unmatched live programming starting January 18 on both TV and its digital platforms.
Moreover, the channel will debut the News18 Ram Lalla Song, titled ‘Pranam Siya Ram,’ on this momentous occasion. Written by the renowned author of ‘The Hidden Hindu’ trilogy, Akshat Gupta, and performed by Siddharth and Shivam Mahadevan, the song serves as a melodious celebration of the inauguration of the Shree Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Several top leaders and politicians are also going to be on News18 India exclusively during this period. Through its ‘Ayodhya Yatra’ segment, News18 India will capture the on-going development and transformation of the city of Ayodhya. Additionally, the channel will mark the occasion with a distinctive assembly of renowned poets, through a ‘Kavi Sammelan’ that will give expression to the faith of millions in poetic verse making for truly compelling viewing.
Besides the special shows, the inauguration coverage will feature the channel’s top anchors, who will host live shows from Ayodhya, along with multi-city coverage to capture sentiments from across the country.
News18’s HSM channels will also participate in this extensive coverage led by News18 Uttar Pradesh / Uttarakhand, which will bring non-stop reports starting from Friday, January 19.
Speaking on the special programming, Network18 CEO – Hindi news Abhishek Singh said, “There is immense curiosity regarding each aspect of the temple and its construction; people genuinely want to know every intricate detail. And as India’s number one Hindi news channel, we are leading the charge to deliver comprehensive coverage from Ayodhya, ensuring an unparalleled viewer experience through our diverse programming line-up. Given the significant interest in the event, we anticipate a notable surge in viewership. Consequently, advertisers are expected to capitalize on the increased viewership and plan their marketing investments to leverage the surge in eyeballs for the channel.”
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.
