News Broadcasting
TV Today mulls Mumbai Aaj Tak
MUMBAI: TV Today Network is now eyeing a Mumbai-centric news channel after having recently launched Dilli Aaj Tak, which serves the National Capital Region (NCR).
On the sidelines of a book release function here today, sources in TV Today Network confirmed that Mumbai Aaj Tak is very much on the cards, but a time frame cannot be given at the moment.
The sources said the fate of Mumbai Aaj Tak channel would be formally decided after evaluating the numbers delivered by Dilli Aaj Tak.
What is more important, TV industry observers point out, is that the Aroon Purie-controlled network does not still have a full fledged infrastructure in Mumbai to support a 24-hour local channel.
The function yesterday marked the release of a Hindi book, Anchor and Reporter written by Aaj Tak deputy editor Punya Prasun Bajpai.
With the launch of Dilli Aaj Tak, TV Today Network has now successfully launched Hindi news space market leader Aaj Tak, English sibling Headlines Today and a Hindi version of Headlines Today called Tez.
While Dilli Aaj Tak has competition in S1, Sahara Samay NCR and Total TV, in Mumbai the field is more open since apart from Sahara Samay Mumbai, there are only cable news channels run by MSOs and cable ops.
TV Today Network posted an increase of 66.86 per cent in net profit at Rs 110 million for the quarter ended 31 March 2006 as against Rs 66.1 million for the corresponding quarter last year.
The total income of the company increased 25.83 per cent to Rs 514.4 million for the same quarter from Rs 409 million in a year ago period.
The TV Today scrip opened today at Rs 85 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
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.
