News Broadcasting
Star News unleashes mobile vans to generate awareness on Maharashtra Assembly Elections
MUMBAI: As the Maharashtra Assembly Elections draws closer, news channels are gearing up for the coverage of the same. Star News, on its behalf has rolled out two on-ground initiatives as a part of its special coverage for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections. With these initiatives, the channel is looking to reach out to the common man and bring to light their views, opinions and dissent.
In the first initiative called – Maratha Express – two Star News teams will tour various towns across Maharashtra and will present a detailed report on each town featuring its history, its culture, the problems facing the people, the political developments over the years, and most importantly chats involving the people and their local leaders.
One team will begin its quest from the city located in the centre of India – Nagpur and the other from Mumbai. From 18 September onwards, these reports are on air daily at 6.30 pm as part of the elections special segment – Maharashtra Mein Mahabharat.
In the second initiative, Star News has rolled out vans to promote its Maharashtra Elections special Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri across the state of Maharashtra. This month long activity was kick-started on 19 September and involves three Star News – Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri ‘raths’ (chariots), which will tour 89 towns in Maharashtra.
These ‘raths’ will make the common man aware of the channel’s special shows for the Maharashtra Assembly Elections. In a move to attract the people, these vans will have interactive games for people based on the elections theme. People can participate in these games and win exciting prizes. These vans will also air the channel live in all these towns, and bring people up-to-date election coverage along with other news.
These vans will also inform people about the on-ground debates to be conducted in certain specific towns across Maharashtra and encourage them to participate.
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.
