News Broadcasting
Times Group chairman Indu Jain succumbs to Covid
New Delhi: Times Group chairman Indu Jain passed away on Thursday night due to Covid-related complications. She was 84.
The group owns the Times of India and other newspapers.
Jain had also set up the Times Foundation in 2000 with sustainable development as its key goals. The non-profit organisation provides community services and runs the Times Relief Fund to offer assistance during extreme weather events and other crises.
Times Group Chairperson Indu Jain passes away at the age of 84.
Tributes pour in for Times Group Chairperson Indu Jain, a lifelong spiritual seeker, pioneering philanthropist, distinguished patron of the arts, and passionate proponent of women’s rights. pic.twitter.com/vEIRJbo5v6
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) May 13, 2021
She was also the founder president of FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), set up in 1983 to promote entrepreneurship and professional excellence among women in India. She also served as the chairperson of Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust to promote literature in Indian languages. The Jnanpith Award, conferred by the Trust annually, is considered to be among the most prestigious honour for authors writing in Indian languages.
She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in January 2016 and an award for Lifetime Contribution to Media by the All India Management Association in 2018.
Tributes poured in for Jain, who was also widely recognized for her philanthropist work. Prime minister Narendra Modi also condoled her demise and said that Jain will be remembered for her contribution to the country’s progress.
Saddened by the demise of Times Group Chairperson Smt. Indu Jain Ji. She will be remembered for her community service initiatives, passion towards India’s progress and deep-rooted interest in our culture. I recall my interactions with her. Condolences to her family. Om Shanti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2021
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.
