News Broadcasting
Rahul Kanwal departs from TV Today
MUMBAI: Rahul Kanwal, the journalistic juggernaut who steered India’s top news channels through tumultuous times, has resigned from the TV Today group.
After a two decade plus -long innings at the broadcasting powerhouse, Kanwal is hanging up his microphone as news director of India Today and Aajtak, and executive director of Business Today. His departure marks the end of an era for a newsman who became the face of prime-time journalism in the subcontinent.
The Harvard-educated presenter transformed the group’s digital footprint with remarkable alacrity. Under his watch, the 30-year-old Business Today brand underwent a digital metamorphosis that rivals would kill for.
At the helm of a 500-strong reporting army, Kanwal’s editorial empire reached a staggering 400 million viewers monthly. The Newstrack anchor, famous for his centrist “question all, take no prisoners” approach, created waves by establishing the Data Intelligence Unit and Anti-Fake News War-Room when misinformation was running rampant.
The Chevening fellow’s career trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric—from humble beginnings as a reporter at Zee News in 1999 to conquering the summit of Indian broadcast journalism over his 23-year career.
Kalli Purie, vice-chairperson of the India Today Group, described Kanwal’s journey as “the quintessential India Today Group narrative—an extraordinary journey of organic growth, limitless opportunities, and a meteoric rise that benefited both sides.”
In an internal memo to staff, Purie acknowledged their 22-year collaboration: “We’ve worked closely together, built formidable teams, created powerful editorial IPs, and traversed the length and breadth of our incredible country, collecting memories that will last a lifetime. Our newsroom is the envy of the media ecosystem.”
She added: “Change is never easy, but as news professionals, it is our very lifeblood. It is what drives us forward. There is just so much to do as AI is again opening a new doorway, an exciting inflection point for content creators.”
The CEO expressed confidence in the team Kanwal leaves behind: “He has mentored a strong second line, which is locked and loaded for what comes next. It’s now your turn to shine.”
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.
