News Broadcasting
Travel tales get luxe twist as Iconic 2025 returns to Delhi in August
MUMBAI: Fasten your seatbelts, India’s tourism calendar just got its most glamorous pit stop. Red Hat Communications, in association with TV9 Network, is bringing back Iconic 2025, the country’s leading travel, tourism, and luxury conclave, set to unfold on 25 August 2025 at ITC Maurya, New Delhi. Now in its seventh edition, the summit builds on a successful legacy of six past editions, 150 plus influencers, and widespread media buzz. This year, under the theme “Innovation, Transformation, and Impact”, the conclave promises a heady mix of policy, luxury, and lifestyle with a packed line-up of panel discussions, pitch sessions, and candid conversations.
From “Influencing Itineraries: Content Engine Behind Modern Tourism” to “Dekho Apna Desh: Exploring India’s Uncharted Territories” and “Creating Iconic Tourism Experiences: Redefining Luxury and Hospitality”, the agenda blends wanderlust with strategy.
The event will feature senior government officials, international tourism boards, luxury brand CXOs, aviation leaders, and travel-tech innovators, all decoding what lies ahead for Indian and global tourism. With India’s inbound and domestic tourism market expected to cross Rs 16 trillion by 2030, the timing could not be better.
“Iconic 2025 is more than an event; it’s a movement that celebrates leadership, vision, and disruptive ideas shaping the future of tourism and lifestyle in India,” said Red Hat Communications CEO and Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council chairperson Jyoti Mayal.
TV9 Network Chief Growth Officer Raktim Das added: “As India’s largest news network, we are committed to amplifying conversations that shape industries. Iconic 2025 offers the perfect platform to highlight the growth and potential of tourism and luxury on a global stage.”
With TV9 as its media partner, the conclave is poised to capture a pan-India audience, cementing India’s reputation not just as a top travel destination but also as a global hub for luxury and lifestyle conversations.
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.
