News Broadcasting
Pvt channels lift exclusive footage: DD News may seek damages
NEW DELHI: Prasar Bharati has taken strong exception to the fact that private satellite news channels relayed almost in full Doordarshan News’ exclusive coverage of the Congress Parliamentary Party’s stormy meet, held on Parliament campus, on 18 May and a press conference the next day without seeking a formal clearance from India’s pubcaster.
Pointing out that such action on the part of the private news channels amounted to a breach of “professional ethics,” DD News in a letter sent to private TV channels today said it raises “serious copyright issues.”Threatening to take legal action, DD has further stated in its letter, “Under the circumstances, do we conclude that DD too has the freedom to relay any exclusive telecast carried on your channel in asimilar manner in the near future?”
Private satellite news channels, of course, are attempting to play down the issue. A senior executive of a private news channel retorted, “The relay of DD News’ coverage of events being referred to was done after due courtesy was given. Moreover, since the happenings took place very fast, a formal clearance could not be taken, but the whole coverage was relayed in public interest.”
The letter signed by the head of DD News has been sent to the likes of Zee News, Star News, both the NDTV channels and Aaj Tak. However, attempts made by indiantelevision.com to elicit a formal response from the news channels proved futile. For example, a spokesperson for Aaj Tak said that he was not aware of the DD News letter and if it were true, the company’s legal department would have to be consulted before a response could be handed out.
The stridency in DD News approach stems from the fact that its status as a pubcaster gives it exclusive rights to televise coverage of events from within the premises of Parliament, a fact that has been contested several times in the past by private TV channels on occasions like presentation of the annual country’s Budget by the finance minister.
Pointing out that the “unprofessional” behaviour of the private news channels was also being brought to the notice of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), an apex body broadcasters operating in India, DD has demanded monetary compensation for the carriage of its exclusive coverage.
“Separate bill of an appropriate amount (for carrying and relaying DD News’ coverage) are being raised in this regard. It is being hoped that you would take immediate steps to deposit the requisite amount to DD,” the letter from Prasar Bharati states.
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.
