News Broadcasting
Times Network creates unique advertising opportunity for SMEs
MUMBAI: Times Network has kick-started a unique advertising opportunity for Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) called Ascend Now 2015.
The week long workshops over three markets – Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi are being held to educate, create awareness, and provide cost-effective advertising opportunities on national television for SMEs and start-ups.
In India, there is a huge amount of potential hidden in the SMEs sector, which needs to be brought forth. The country is a home to over five crore SME units. Having said, that when it comes to communicating their respective brands, these SMEs and start-ups don’t know how to go about it.
They don’t get expert advice that their bigger counterparts receive from brand consultants and media agencies. As a result, fail to optimise their brand communication and get that critical benefit. The research has shown that the biggest perception bearers amongst the SME and start-ups are of the opinion that the national television is expensive and beyond their reach.
Having identified this need gap, Times Network has created an opportunity through Ascend Now 2015, whereby the SMEs and the start-ups can avail expert advices on brand communications and can broadcast their brand through the television channels of Times Network. Through this framework, the SMEs and the start-ups can do their brand promotions on India’s largest television platform in a cost-effective manner.
As the workshops end on 23 September, Times Network is expecting to reach out to over 1000 SMEs and start-ups, which are prospective advertisers. The trend shows that the conversion of the prospects to the real advertisers will be about 150 companies. This initiative will possibly give a 10 per cent increase in the number of advertisers on Times Network, annually.
Times Network CEO &MD MK Anand said, “I’m extremely thrilled with the kind of response we have received from the SMEs in the first two days of seminars in Mumbai. It is this success that gives us confidence about doing well even in Delhi and Bangalore in the next few days.”
The packages that were offered were specially created for SMEs ranging from Rs 22 lakhs to Rs 66 lakhs. The offers are valid for a 12-month period and are only available on the day of the seminar.
In the inaugural two-day workshop in Mumbai, the senior executives who participated were from companies that have presence in – Construction, Education, Food and Agro Products, Jewellery Manufacturing, Internet start-ups and Beauty and Lifestyle.
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.
