News Broadcasting
Samarth Conclave drives India’s accessible future
DELHI: India is shifting gears on inclusion, and this time it is making sure no one is left waiting at the kerb. At the Samarth India Conclave and Expo 2025 in Delhi, Hyundai Motor India Limited and Times Network steered a lively national conversation on accessibility, technology and equal opportunity for persons with disabilities.
Held under the ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative, the conclave brought together ministers, policymakers, technologists and advocates to explore how inclusive design and assistive innovation can unlock the full potential of millions. The highlight was the launch of the Samarth Accessibility Metric, created by Times Network and Samarthyam Centre for Universal Accessibility, which provides India’s first structured rating system for accessible public and private mobility spaces.
The Expo added a hands-on dimension, with startups and innovators displaying adaptive mobility devices, AI-led navigation aids and accessible digital tools. Organisations including NCPEDP, ALIMCO, the National Association for the Blind and XL Cinemas presented solutions tailored to diverse disability needs.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju underscored the government’s commitment to dignity and equal access, noting the shift in social attitudes since the adoption of the term Divyang. He highlighted parity in support for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and called assistive technology essential to a disability-neutral India.
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised that accessibility must define India’s rise. He said inclusive tourism is a national priority, citing AI-enabled travel guidance, screen-reader-friendly platforms, sign-language tours and sensory-inclusive events as examples of progress. He added that India is no longer following global standards but setting them across airports, museums, smart cities and heritage projects.
Hyundai Motor India’s managing director Unsoo Kim said the company sees mobility as momentum for change, noting that Samarth by Hyundai represents its commitment to human-centred mobility. COO Tarun Garg added that accessibility is a fundamental right, and the conclave aims to accelerate transformative solutions that deliver measurable impact for people with disabilities.
Times Network stated that the initiative aligns with the Group’s decades-long role in shaping national conversations, and that amplifying Hyundai’s accessibility mission reflects its own ethos.
Now in its second year, Samarth by Hyundai continues to champion empowerment through action. With support for para-athletes, inclusive sporting events, accessible infrastructure, student outreach and the pledge for inclusivity movement, the initiative reinforces a simple truth, when capability is enabled, ambition becomes unstoppable.
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.
