News Broadcasting
Rajdeep, NDTV CFO to take up new assignment next week
MUMBAI: NDTV today confirmed that managing editor Rajdeep Sardesai and CFO Sameer Manchanda have put in their papers.
Both Sardesai and Manchanda, who had been given counter offers from NDTV that were politely turned down, will be taking up their new assignments from early next week.
While a senior NDTV executive confirmed that “Rajdeep and Sameer have decided to try out newer opportunities in which we wish them well,” Sardesai told Indiantelevision.com today evening, “I have put in my papers today and my last day is Monday. There’s no turning back for the moment.”
Sardesai added that he’s still very emotional about NDTV where he has worked over 10 years now.
It has also been confirmed that in a new start-up, where Sardesai will be the editor-in-chief, apart from holding part equity, the Raghav Bahl-promoted Television Eighteen Ltd will be the main strategic investor.
This start-up, as reported by Indiantelevision.com yesterday, will manage new TV news and infotainment channels to be put on air.
The markets seem to have reacted positively to this development for one of the companies concerned. TV18 scrip opened on the Bombay Stock Exchange at Rs. 230 to finish the day at Rs. 245.65. NDTV shares opened at Rs. 184.95 and closed at Rs. 164.60.
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.
