News Broadcasting
No case has gone to tier-3 so far for Digital Media Ethics Code violation: SC justice Arjan Sikri
Mumbai: Publishers of online curated content have successfully implemented the three-tiered redressal mechanism for addressing grievances regarding violations of the Digital Media Code of Ethics as set forth by the IT Rules 2021, said former Supreme Court justice Arjan Kumar Sikri. “No case has gone to tier-3 so far for Digital Media Ethics Code violation,” he noted.
Sikri was addressing the Pixels conference organised by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). He chairs IAMAI’s grievance redressal board formed as a part of the digital publisher content grievances council (DPCGC).
“All complaints directly addressed to MIB/Inter-departmental Committee (level-3) should be pushed by the committee to be addressed by the platform (level-1) and then by the self-regulating body (level-2) before being taken by level-3. The exercise of adjudicatory powers by the executive branch of the Government, if not done judiciously, will jeopardize the freedom of digital entertainment in India,” he said.
He further stated that the main concern of the industry is protecting intellectual rights in the digital entertainment space as well as addressing questions about data privacy. He added that ultimately when these issues come to regulators or courts, it is to be examined from the prism of – democracy, dissent, and the Constitution of India which guarantees freedom of speech under Article 19 (1) (a). He emphasized the need for an equilibrium between all the stakeholders, with minimal governmental control and maximum self-regulation to seamlessly regulate emerging sectors.
The conference was also addressed by the Government of Telangana principal secretary for the industries and commerce department and information technology, electronics, and communications department Jayesh Ranjan.
He stated that the Telangana government is looking to strengthen infrastructure for the sector. “We are setting up a facility of 1.4 million square feet in Hyderabad called image tower, which would be a hub of animation and VFX. We are confident that once the image tower is up and running this would be the new face of Hyderabad,” Sikri said.
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.
