News Broadcasting
Premier of documentary ‘Ram Janmabhoomi’; Arun Govil & Dipika Chikhlia reunite for NDTV
Mumbai: NDTV, is set to bring viewers front-row experience at the inauguration of the grand Ram Mandir on 22 January 2024. NDTV’s ‘Ayodhya Naya Adhyay’ brings you a mega featuring the beloved original stars of the Ramayan series, Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia, marking their return to TV starting from 18 January 2024.
In another dedicated offering for its trusted viewers, NDTV has secured the rights to air Amish Tripathi’s documentary ‘Ram Janmabhoomi – Return of a Splendid Sun’. The world premiere takes place on 25 January 2024, hosted by Amish, and directed by Nitish Sharma & Pranav Chaturvedi. The documentary promises to unveil unknown facts and legends surrounding Lord Ram’s birth and the significance of Ayodhya. It delves into the holy temple’s history, enriched with insights from religious scholars, chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and the common man alike.
The actors from the 80s revered series, Ramayan, will grace NDTV’s screens in the run-up to the auspicious inauguration of Ram Mandir, offering viewers an immersive insight into one of the world’s most significant divine events. Arun-Dipika will be an integral part of NDTV’s coverage, sharing their unique perspectives and experiences over three exclusive segments and a show ‘Ayodhya Naya Adhyay – Siya Ram Sang’.
NDTV is all set to provide extensive live coverage of the pre-event, inauguration, and post-launch proceedings from the banks of the holy river Sarayu, spanning all screens and formats. Kicking off on 18 January, the pre-inauguration coverage will include an engaging daily quiz, rapid-fire questions, enlightening lessons from Ayodhya, and a host of other interactive content. The coverage will feature continuous updates, complete with exclusive visuals, documentaries, chat shows, and special interviews.
Renowned anchors Sumit Awasthi and Marya Shakil will spearhead the prime-time shows, bringing you an insight into Ayodhya through the eyes of its citizens, and incorporating voices from other holy shrines across the country.
Stunningly shot, the documentary ‘Ram Janmabhoomi – Return of a Splendid Sun’ brings to life Ayodhya’s Naya Adhyay, strung together by Amish’s powerful narration.
With thousands gathering in Ayodhya to participate in and celebrate this historic event, NDTV is offering practical advice on how to reach Ayodhya, visitor facilities, security arrangements, and more.
For devoted pilgrims following from home, NDTV has prepared bite-sized digital content, including a virtual tour of Ram Mandir, YouTube Live chats, and an array of engaging features to keep audiences captivated.
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.
