News Broadcasting
Star News’ 3rd anniversary launches interactive service Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka
MUMBAI: Star News turns three years old this 31 Mrach. Post the divorce with the then content provider New Delhi based NDTV, now turned news broadcaster, the MCCS managed Star News celebrates its third anniversary by launching an interactive service — Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka.
The service has been designed as a 24-hour viewer feedback number that elicits active viewer participation. With this feedback mechanism, the viewers can call in and express their views, opinions, suggestions or questions on a news story.
In an official statement issued today, this method of eliciting viewer interactivity reinstates Star News’ position as the ‘people’s channel’. The journey of three years for Star News has been studded with commendable achievements and appreciable milestones.
The major breaking stories includes the Mumbai deluge, the Shankaracharya controversy, the exclusive interview of Abu Salem’s first wife, Samira Jumani, and the MP (LAD) sting operation, ‘Chakravyuvh’.
The channel has moved from strength to strength and has grown to command a significant viewership in the industry. Today, Star News has international footprints in South East Asia, Central Asia, UK, USA and Australia. The channel has set precedents in investigative journalism, lateral programming and unique on-ground properties that have been accepted by the viewers and emulated by competitors.
MCCS CEO and editor Uday Shankar says, “Our journey over the last 3 years has been filled with challenges which we have successfully overcome. And the affection & unstinting support we have received from our viewers & strategic partners makes it a fruitful and memorable one too. Going forward it will be our constant endeavour to live upto their expectations just as we have in the past.”
He further added “And on the occasion of our 3rd Anniversary milestone, we are taking our promise to our viewers to the next level by introducing Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka, a first-time viewer interface with the channel where Star News will get to solicit their views, opinions and response on a news story. The objective is to provide the viewer a direct voice on Star News and change the existing scenario by making them an active part of the news. It is one more step in the direction of our commitment of being the people’s channel.”
The statement informs that the viewer feedback is a vital ingredient of a channel’s success and is probably the only means for a channel to gauge acceptability and interest levels among its audiences. With Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka, Star News will provide the viewers a phone number wherein a viewer can call in to voice their ideas, opinion or questions on a news story.
The central idea for the launch of this first of it’s kind initiative is to change the current scenario wherein the viewer plays a passive part by just listening/ watching the news, to the viewer being an active participant by giving them a chance to be a part of the news and voice their feelings on the channel.
The viewers can dial 022-5663 0099 to voice their opinions, suggestions, views or questions through Khabar Hamari, Faisla Aapka.
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.
