News Broadcasting
Times Network crosses 100M users online: Comscore
Mumbai: Times Network has emerged as India’s top digital news publisher, amassing 104 million monthly unique users across platforms, according to Comscore’s August 2024 report. This remarkable achievement highlights the network’s impressive 168 per cent growth since February 2024, outpacing competitors like NDTV (99 million), ABP Network (89 million), Jagran (86 million), and Indian Express (77 million). Times Network’s commitment to delivering innovative, digital-first content formats has cemented its leadership in both the general and business news segments.
This surge was driven by the Network’s flagship digital brands—TimesNow.in, ETNow.in, TimesNowNavbharat.in, Zoomtv.com, and Digit.in—which offer users a personalised experience through live interactive segments, consumer-centric explainers, and cutting-edge content powered by AI and AR. The recent acquisition of tech platform Digit.in played a key role in this growth, delivering a 160 per cent increase in just three months.
Times Network has also expanded into regional languages, including Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, and Bangla, to meet the growing demand for localised content. Further expansion into languages like Malayalam and Kannada is expected soon. Additionally, the launch of TimesDrive.in (auto news) and HealthandMe.com (health and wellness) showcases the Network’s ongoing diversification into key verticals.
Speaking on the occasion, a spokesperson from Times Network said: “Our digital-first initiatives and commitment to high-quality journalism have fueled our rapid growth, helping us surpass legacy players in the market. With 104 million unique users and counting, we are proud to lead India’s digital news revolution.”
The network’s growth reflects its commitment to meeting the evolving interests of its audience across industries while maintaining a steadfast focus on audience engagement and quality journalism. Earlier this year, Times Network became the fastest-growing digital video news network in the country, with over 4 billion monthly views across its channels.
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.
