News Broadcasting
Trai sees possible private play in terrestrial TV
NEW DELHI: The Telecom regulatory Authority of India today released a consultation paper on private terrestrial TV broadcasting service, indicating that the sector could be thrown open to private participation.
The consultation paper covers the issues relating to allowing private broadcasters in the field of terrestrial television broadcasting.
Pointing out that though in India terrestrial broadcasting has been the prerogative of national broadcaster Doordarshan, Trai has said in most developed countries in the world, terrestrial TV broadcasting is “not exclusively reserved for the public service broadcasters.” Even in developing countries, private terrestrial television broadcast services are common.
Terrestrial television is the traditional method of television broadcast signal delivery. In India, at present, even though there are more than 100 television channels available on cable television networks, terrestrial television broadcasting remains in the exclusive domain of Doordarshan under Prasar Bharati.
The purpose of this consultation paper is to generate discussion on the appropriate policy and licensing framework for the introduction of private terrestrial television broadcast service in India.
Given the developed status of the cable/satellite services, it is not clear whether there would be sufficient private interest. Therefore, after considering the inputs, TRAI would either give its recommendation or go in for a more detailed consultation process.
The specific issues posed for consultation have been put together in Chapter-6, Trai has said, adding that details on this process could be had from its site, www.trai.gov.in.
Meanwhile, the regulator also announced that it proposes to hold Open House Discussions on the subject in May, 2005.
The Delhi session would be held on 16 March, while the Mumbai event is slated for 18 March.
All interested agencies / individuals are invited to participate in the process. The consultation paper is available on the TRAI’s website.
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.
