News Broadcasting
Rajya Sabha TV sr anchor journalist Girish Nikam passes away
MUMBAI: This was his last tweet. “I think the I&B Ministry should upload the video which was considered by the Inter-ministerial c’tee recommending the #Ban on #NDTVIndia”. Sadly, senior journalist and consultant/anchor at Rajya Sabha TV (RStv) Girish Nikam did not get to see the progress of the saga NDTV-ministry of information & broadcasting. Nikam died earlier today following a massive heart attack.
He felt uneasy after filming a show today and was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in New Delhi where he breathed his last.
Amongst the shows he used to host on Rajya Sabha TV was one called The Big Picture.
The 59 year old had a long career spanning Star of Mysore in Mysuru, Indian Express, Bengaluru, Eenadu, India Today, Deccan Chronicle and News Today.
His body is to be flown to Bengaluru for his last rites.
Nikam had a MA in Social work, Criminology and correctional administration, apart from a BA in Journalism.
Among those who condoled his passing away include:
Rajdeep Sardesai: “Veteran journalist Girish Nikam passes away almost literally on the job. Died soon after recording a show for RS tv. RIP”
Venkaiah Naidu: “Visited mortal remains of Shri Girish Nikam. Doctors said he suffered a massive heart attack and they couldn’t revive him. Very sad. Saddened by d sudden demise of Shri Girish Nikam. Known him 4 many years right frm early ETV days. My condolences to d bereaved family. RIP. ”
Prasar Bharati chairman A.S. Suryaprakash said that Nikam was an extremely versatile mediaperson who traversed the worlds of print, television and social media.
Also read :- Bye Bye, Girish
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.
