News Broadcasting
Siddharth Zarabi and Alok Nair take charge of Business Today in sweeping leadership shuffle
MUMBAI: At Business Today, the winds of change are charging at bull-run speed. In a significant leadership shake-up announced by the India Today Group, Siddharth Zarabi has been elevated to the role of group editor, while Alok Nair has taken independent charge of the overall Strategic Business Unit (SBU). Both executives now steer one of India’s most influential business media outfits into its next ambitious chapter.
Zarabi, who has been with Business Today for just four years, will now helm the brand’s digital mandate in addition to his leadership across print and TV. With this expanded portfolio, Zarabi completes the vision of a unified, synergistic business vertical across platforms—a strategy laid out by Aroon Purie and the Group’s top brass. In his new role, he reports to Purie for print and to the author of the announcement for digital and TV operations.
Congratulating Zarabi, the note hailed his growth as a homegrown ITG talent and recognised his leadership in shaping Business Today’s editorial voice. His promotion positions him at the forefront of an integrated content strategy amid growing media convergence.
On the business side, Business Today COO Nair has taken independent charge of the entire SBU. Having spent four years scaling up the business, Nair has seamlessly integrated into the company’s high-performance culture. The announcement lauded his blend of energy, vision, and what were cheekily referred to as “magic beans”.
Nair will now report directly to India Today Group, group CEO Dinesh Bhatia. His elevation is seen as a bold move to energise Business Today’s business trajectory and deepen its market impact.
In a separate but equally enthusiastic email, Kamlesh Kishore Singh, host of the podcast Teen Taal was welcomed back into the newsroom after a brief sabbatical. Singh, known for his 16-year stint at the group and his mentorship at Lallantop, resumes a full-time role from 1 May, adding further heft to the Group’s editorial firepower.
With Singh’s ‘unretirement’, the reunion with longtime collaborator Venkat promises what leadership calls a “lethal combo” for doubling down on AI and digital transformation. In lighter moments, the note teases an “Unfarewell party” to celebrate his return.
Both announcements underline India Today Group’s renewed faith in internal leadership and long-standing editorial talent. “Get ready for a real bull run”, the memo concludes—a statement that may apply as much to markets as it does to this spirited newsroom.
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.
