News Broadcasting
TV Today Network subsidiary receives IT demand notices
BENGALURU: TV Today Network Limited (TVTN) has informed the bourses that its wholly owned non-material subsidiary India Today Online Private Limited (ITOPL) has received separate demand notices from the Income Tax department.
“In reference to the captioned subject, please take note that ITOPL has received separate notice of demands dated October 09, 2018 to the tune of Rs 26 crores and Rs 43.24 crores for the assessment years 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively from the Income Tax Department, which were received at our office on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The management of ITOPL is evaluating the notices in the aforesaid matter and will take appropriate course of action, “ the company informed stock exchanges through a letter.
“The receipt of aforesaid notice of demands is not a material event in accordance with the policy on determination of materiality of events of the Company (the "Policy") requiring appropriate disclosures and pertains to a non-material subsidiary of the Company. However, considering the fact that a composite scheme of arrangement and amalgamation ("Scheme") has been filed before the Hon'ble National Company Law Tribunal, New Delhi, ITOPL is in the process of being merged with the Company pursuant to the Scheme filed by the Company, as a matter of good corporate governance practice and to keep stakeholders duly informed, the aforesaid disclosure is being made. Further, as part of the Scheme documentation, the Company has already submitted the financials of ITOPL to the stock exchanges, reflecting the amounts in dispute. Kindly take the same on record,” added the company.
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.
