News Broadcasting
Prez Murmu calls for action on women’s safety at News18 SheShakti Summit 2024
Mumbai: In a special message at the News18 SheShakti Summit 2024, president Droupadi Murmu addressed a pack of topics surrounding women’s empowerment, their safety and struggle.
Addressing the summit that celebrated trailblazing women propelling India to the global forefront, president Murmu said, “Women are, in fact, the true manifestation of power. The real strength of our nation lies in the empowerment of women. Our women have always demonstrated resilience, strength, and courage, moving forward despite all obstacles.”
President Murmu’s speech at News18 SheShakti Summit 2024:
“Greetings! In the centuries-old culture of India, our country has been given the status of the motherland. We regard our birthplace as a mother and refer to the earth as a mother. In this way, Indian soil has a tradition of holding women in the highest respect and reverence.
In our diverse nation, our goddesses have also assumed many forms. On one hand, they take on fierce forms like Kali and Durga to vanquish demons, while on the other, they bless us as Lakshmi and Saraswati, providing peace, prosperity, and knowledge. Women are considered the embodiment of power in our country.
Women are, in fact, the true manifestation of power. The real strength of our nation lies in the empowerment of women. Our women have always demonstrated resilience, strength, and courage, moving forward despite all obstacles.
In our country, strict laws have been made regarding women’s safety. Yet, it is unfortunate that feelings of insecurity still exist. The constant struggle of women is against the social narrow-mindedness and conservatism that consider them weak.
Although many changes have occurred, some social prejudices remain deeply rooted, creating barriers to women’s equality.
As a society, we all need to look within ourselves and ask some hard questions. Where have we gone wrong? What can we do to improve? The safety and dignity of women are crucial for the development and success of any nation. It has become essential for all of us to come together and pledge to protect the honour and dignity of the women in our country and ensure their progress.
This initiative by Network18 aims to honour those women who have achieved extraordinary feats beyond the limitations of gender. These women have set incredible examples, breaking all boundaries, challenging discriminatory standards, and achieving tremendous success by shattering stereotypes.
The time has come for us to awaken a public consciousness where respect for women is increased, and no woman feels unsafe at any time, in any place. Your She-Shakti campaign is a part of this broader public awareness effort. My best wishes for the success of your program. Thank you. Jai Hind!”
News18 SheShakti returned with season two, under the theme ‘Breaking Barriers’. This year’s summit talked about how women are redefining success and driving transformative change. The event featured an inspiring line-up of pioneers from all walks of life — politics, science, arts, business, sports, and entertainment, who share their disruptive insights on leadership, reflecting the unstoppable momentum of women leading India’s success story.
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.
