News Broadcasting
Three news channels likely to launch in November
MUMBAI: A fleet of news channels are set for launch in November, putting further pressure on an already crowded cable pipeline.
Sources say Times Now, a joint venture between Times Global Broadcasting Pvt Ltd and Reuters, is aiming to beam from 9 November. No official confirmation, however, was forthcoming on the date of launch. Said Times Global Broadcasting VP and business head Partho Das Gupta, “The date has not been finalized yet. But we are targeting to launch in November.”
Next up will be iBN, the Rajdeep Sardesai and Sameer Manchanda joint venture with TV18, which is targeting a 19 November launch. Broadcast News editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai says the launch is on course. “As I have always stated, the launch of the iBN will be somewhere in the last quarter of this calendar year. We are sticking to it.”
If this is going to set up the big stage battle among the biggies, Markand Adhikari is attempting to carve a niche space in the news segment with the launch of a “views” channel titled Janmat. The channel’s test signals are on. Says Sri Adhikari Brothers vice-chairman Markhand Adhikari, “The channel will be launched by the end of October or first week of November.”
Waiting in the wings are also India TV’s Gujarati news channel and NDTV Nation, a metro-centric channel. While the industry buzz indicated November as the launch date of NDTV Nation, a company source says it is put on hold. NDTV was not willing to disclose the exact date of launch. “No firm decision has yet been taken on the launch of NDTV Nation at the moment,” says an official spokesperson.
There is one thing that is dead certain for these new channels: a significant amount will go by way of carriage fees for proper placement of these channels. Industry estimates put the distribution cost for a news channel at somewhere around Rs 100-120 million.
The news channels are still in the process of sewing up deals with most of the cable operators. Admits Das Gupta: “Negotiations are on for channel placement.” Same is the case with iBN which wants to get colour or S-band carriage. Leading multi system operators say iBN’s proposals are under discussion. “We have made earlier commitments with other channels. We will have to see how we can dislodge some of them who do not stick to their terms. Alternately, the commercial terms of some other channels may be ending. We can open up these slots for the new channels. We expect carriage fee rates to go up substantially,” a senior executive of a leading MSO said.
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.
