News Broadcasting
TV Today Network to replace Business Today with Aaj Tak HD
MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has granted permission to the TV Today Network to change the name and logo of news and current affairs TV channel Business Today to Aaj Tak HD in a letter dated 27 August 2018. TV Today Network had written to MIB requesting for these approvals on 12 October 2017.
“The Stock Exchange would be duly intimated before the launch of the channel ‘Aaj Tak HD’”, the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today.
Apart from the logo and name change, the channel will also witness a change in transmission mode from SD to HD and a language switch from English to Hindi.
In the same letter, MIB also approved the appointment of India Today Group CEO Vivek Khanna, who took over the position in November last year.
Aaj Tak is the leading channel in all the three Hindi speaking markets according to the BARC data. The channel announced a hike in its ad rates earlier this week.
Aaj Tak recalibrated its rates after indexing inventory and latest leadership performance across parameters.
Commenting on the latest development, TV Today CRO Rahul Shaw said, “Given its unchallenged viewership and unparalleled following, Aaj Tak is now strategically looking at lowering inventory and compensating it with a premium pricing. With leadership across hsm, all india, urban, rural, coverage and prime time and almost a quarter of news viewership with only one news channel on big news time bands, it is important that the leader helps the genre improve yields “.
India Today Group CEO Vivek Khanna added, “The most influential news brand of the country has been a role model for many to follow. Truth, integrity and unconventional methods of news reporting really leave no competition in sight.”
In BARC’s week 33 data, the channel garnered 214534 impressions (000s) sum in the urban plus rural market. In the rural market, the channel’s recorded viewership was 102312 impressions (000s) sum. The urban market helped the channel register 112222 impressions (000s) sum.
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.
