News Broadcasting
Times Network targets jet set with Luxury Time across six channels
MUMBAI: Ever got the liberty to choose a platform for the consumption of your favourite content? And no, we are not talking about digital but our own traditional television. Times Network is launching a new show titled Luxury Time. The show is placed on the weekend primetime slots of not one or two but across six of its channels- ET Now, Times Now, Magicbricks Now, Romedy Now HD, Romedy Now SD and MN+.
Reason: not dissecting the audience but giving it the power to choose a platform, whether they want to watch the show on the news channels or English entertainment channels.
Slated to go on air from 27 August, the debut season will comprise of 12 episodes of 30 minutes each and will span across categories like travel, lifestyle, personal care, accessories, fashion, gourmet, gadgets and premium stationery. The show promises to showcase luxury in the true sense – luxurious living, aspirational brands, gourmet cuisines, exotic destinations and the likes.
Luxury Time is targeted at the 10.2 million strong English speaking audience and aims to be an international barometer of luxury and sophistication. It has been shot internationally and in various places within India with a bank of three to four shows ready.
“The luxury industry in India is a fast growing industry with an average growth rate of 15 per cent to 20 per cent. Being the strongest in the English language space, reaching to 67 per cent of the English speaking audience, our network attracts the leisured and privileged class of the HNIs,” says Times Network president revenue Ashit Kukian. “This makes the network and the show the best platform for luxury industry to connect with its target audience and offer viewers unique experiences within the world of luxury.
Each episode will feature notable experts and celebrities who will talk about the latest trends in each of the categories. The show promises top brands such as: Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin, Chopard co-president and creative director Caroline Scheufele, Tag Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver, Breitling VP Jean-Paul Girardin, Maharaja Gajendra Singh ji of The Ummaid Bhavan Palace in Jodhpur, jewelry designer Nirav Modi, fashion designer Raghavendra Singh Rathore and Gauri Devidayal, Partner – The Table, etc.
He further added “It is expected that in 2020, the average age of an Indian will be 29 years, which reflects that the spending power of this population will continue to grow and they will be spending over 40% of their monthly income on some of the world’s largest luxury brands. And keeping the same in mind, the timing for launching the show now was most appropriate to reach millennial’s who are ready for exclusive experiences. Luxury Time will showcase forward-thinking ideas in luxury travel, business, culture, fashion, food and technology.”
Though the show has no sponsors or advertisers on board as of yet, Kukian believes that once the first episode goes on air, advertisers and viewers will latch onto it automatically. “We have clearly gone with the content need and are open for an advertiser to get on board. Brand integration definitely is a good opportunity and can happen in the future,” he added.
Given the strength of the group, Luxury Time will be promoted across all the networks’ channels. Once it gets good traction, the channel will strategize the show’s marketing on various other mediums.
It will be interesting to observe what benefits will this window to the luxury world bring for the entire network.
| Channels | Date / Days | Original Telecast | Repeat Telecast |
| Times Now | 27th & 28th Aug (Sat & Sun) | 6:30 PM | 11:30 AM |
| ET Now | 27th & 28th Aug (Sat & Sun) | 10:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| Magicbricks Now | 27th & 28th Aug (Sat & Sun) | 6:30 PM & 10:30 PM | 3:30 PM & 6:30 AM |
| Romedy Now HD | 27th & 28th Aug (Sat & Sun) | 10:00 AM | 8:30 AM |
| Romedy Now SD | 27th & 28th Aug (Sat & Sun) | 10:00 AM | 8:30 AM |
| MN+ | 2nd & 3rd Sep (Friday & Sat) | 8:30 PM | 9:00 AM |
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.
