News Broadcasting
‘Republic TV’ hires Chitra Subramaniam as advisor
MUMBAI: With two decades of journalistic experience in the field, Chitra Subramaniam has joined hands with Arnab Goswami in his new venture Republic TV. She is known for her investigation of the Bofors scandal which led to the electoral debacle of former PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1989.
Goswami said, “I am privileged to work with Chitra Subramaniam. We look up to her for her high standards of journalism and integrity. Our editorial team is delighted to welcome her on board.” Subramaniam has also reported widely on trade (GATT-WTO) and arms control and covered the Bosnia war from the front lines.
Subramaniam added, “I am pleased to collaborate with Arnab and his team. It’s young, fresh, fearless, pan-Indian and ambitious – attributes that Indian journalism can do with at this juncture. I hope I can live up to the expectations placed on me.”
Taking a break from journalism, she was part of the former Norwegian Prime Minister Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland’s campaign team for the post of Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). She became the lead person for policy analysis and communications for WHO’s Cabinet Project Tobacco Free Initiative which resulted in the coming into force of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the world’s first treaty entirely devoted to health. Subramaniam then went on to set up her own company in Switzerland doing market research and media analysis for Fortune 500 companies promoting ethical business practices between India and Europe. In 2014, Subramaniam returned to active journalism and co-founded online news portal – The News Minute.
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.
