News Broadcasting
Telugu tackled; TV9 keen on Kannada news channel next
MUMBAI: Newly launched Telugu news channel TV9 is now eyeing the Kannada space as well.
For the news hungry Andhra Pradesh populace, TV9 is currently jostling for attention along with ETV2 from the Ramoji Rao family and DD 8 from pubcaster Doordarshan. Launched formally on 1 February 2004, the i-Labs backed Associate Broadcasting venture, TV9 with its news heavy content is spoiling for a share of the election related advertising that has already got underway.
The free to air digital channel which had a 15 day trial run before the formal launch, offers hourly bulletins, apart from regular headline bullets, runs weekend shows and features a daily hour long discusssion programme at 10 pm. A half hour weekly crime file bulletin and a open house discussion with a prominent perosnality, a la the Rajat Sharma anchored Aap Ki Adalat, currently fill the programming. On the cards are more talk shows, including a live show, once the second phase of programming rolls out from 15 March, says founder CEO Ravi Prakash. The channel’s USP is a daily, Megha, a show aided by hidden cameras, where TV9’s reporters tempt a corrupt official or local politician into bribery and record the incident.
TV9 has been planned with an urban orientation, focusing on the major metros and towns of Andhra Pradesh, and will have shows detailing the night life in these places, targeting the younger 18 to 35 age group, says Prakash. Viewers these days, says Prakash, are becoming tired of family drama shows and TV9 intends to plug the gap by ‘entertaining through news’. This is the reason that TV9 is also studying the Kannada scenario, but not for an entertainment channel but for a news channel.
With a staff of 125 correspondents fanned out across the country, two OB vans (and more to come for the elections) and a tie up with iVision news agency, TV9 uplinks from an earth station in Banjara Hills, the only earth station inside Hyderabad, claims Prakash.
TV9 attempts a different take even on ordinary news bulletins, by including localised business news and weather forecasts.
As the latest entrant on the scene, TV9 has some stiff competition from existing players. Teja, from the Sun stable, has increased its news related shows, including current affairs programmes and talk shows. Vissa TV, promoted by Chennai based Raj TV has also strengthened its position with four news bulletins a day. While Maa TV, another Telugu channel, has also increased the number of news bulletins on air.
Sources say the spot buy rates for Telugu news channels are also on the upswing, with big players like Gemini TV asking for Rs 17,000 per 10-second spot at prime time. The rest of the players reportedly do not rake in as much, but with elections just round the corner, Telugu news channels are getting ready to rake in the hay while India shines.
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.
