News Broadcasting
TV18’s general news biz posts maiden operating profit in Q1
MUMBAI: TV18 Broadcast’s general news business, comprising CNN IBN and IBN7, has swung into operating profit for the first time as fiscal-first quarter revenue grew at a healthy 11 per cent under a tough economic climate.
The segment‘s operating profit stood at Rs 22 million for the three months ended 30 June 2012 against a loss of Rs 5 million a year earlier.
The segment’s revenues climbed to Rs 679 million from Rs 614 million.
TV18 Broadcast said operating margin of the general news business improved to 3 per cent in the first quarter from a negative of one per cent a year ago.
English news channel CNN IBN was launched in December 2005, while Hindi news channel IBN7 is the rebranded version of Channel 7, which was acquired by Network18 in 2006 from Jagran group.
The business news operations – CNBC 18 and CNBC Awaaz – continued to be TV18 Broadcast’s crown jewel with revenues of Rs 718 million in the first quarter of 2012-13, up from Rs 681 million a year earlier. Operating profit from business news operations increased to Rs 208 million in the first quarter from Rs 175 million in the earlier year.
The operating margin for business news improved to 29 per cent from 26 per cent. TV18 Broadcast’s operating profit for the overall news business in the first quarter rose 27 per cent to Rs 232 million.
Network18 MD Raghav Bahl said, “After a strong phase of investment in building our portfolio of channels, TV18 has now entered a consolidation phase and we are focused on creating value for all our stakeholders. Even though the broader macroeconomic environment remains challenging and uncertain, the Indian broadcasting industry is enthused by the enormous opportunity that digitisation presents.”
“At TV18, we are confident that with our distribution venture – IndiaCast, we are well poised to claim our rightful share of the opportunity. After we complete our proposed strategic stake acquisition in ETV and the proposed twin rights issues (subject to regulatory approvals), we believe that our strong television footprint will propel us to the next phase of our growth.”
Even though its general news business reported an operating profit, TV18 Broadcast reported a net loss of Rs 78 million in the first quarter against a net profit of Rs 235 million a year earlier, as its interest cost rose to Rs 291 million (from Rs 210 million). TV18 Broadcast was helped in reporting net profit in the first quarter of the previous fiscal by high other income of Rs 337 million compared to Rs 41 million in the quarter ended 30 June 2012.
In the exit quarter of the previous fiscal, TV18 Broadcast had reported a net loss of Rs 83 million.
TV18 Broadcast’s revenue from news business rose 7.20 per cent to Rs 1.36 billion in the first quarter from Rs 1.27 billion a year earlier. The company’s income from operations stood at 1.22 billion, up 5.17 per cent.
Operating expenses for the news business saw a minor jump to Rs 1.14 billion from Rs 1.09 billion a year earlier due to rise in staff costs to Rs 380 million from Rs 320 million. Marketing, distribution and promotional expenses, however, fell to Rs 333 million from Rs 373 million a year ago.
News Broadcasting
News18 India launches Command Centre war explainer with Arya
New show shifts from debates to decoding global conflicts and impacts
MUMBAI: News18 India has rolled out a new war-focused programme, Command Centre, featuring Gaurav Arya, as it looks to offer viewers a sharper, more grounded take on global conflicts amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Positioned as an “insider war room”, the show moves away from conventional panel debates and instead focuses on explaining military developments, decoding strategy and connecting global events to their everyday impact, from fuel prices to economic shifts.
The format leans heavily on visuals and data. The studio has been designed like a command hub, complete with large LED war maps, real-time graphics and an alert system to track developments as they unfold.
At the centre of it all is Arya, who brings his military background to simplify complex war strategies for viewers. His signature line, “Seedhi baat samjhiye”, anchors the show’s promise of clarity over noise.
News18 India managing editor Jyoti Kamal said, “Command Centre, featuring Major Gaurav Arya is designed to deliver accurate insights and a clear perspective on how evolving conflicts impact everyday life, from household budgets to national security. With expert voices analysing every development in real time, the show goes beyond headlines to decode what’s happening now, what it means, and what could come next.”
Echoing the intent, Gaurav Arya added, “In times of war, confusion is the biggest threat. With News18 India’s Command Centre, we are bringing viewers inside the war room, decoding strategies, tracking every escalation, and explaining, in the simplest terms, what it means for India and for every household. Seedhi baat samjhiye, this is where you understand not just what is happening, but what happens next.”
The weekday show will air in the afternoon slot and will also feature Gaurav Shukla, adding to its editorial depth.
With its mix of analysis, visuals and a clear focus on impact, the show reflects a broader shift in news consumption. Viewers are no longer just watching events unfold, they are looking to understand what those events mean for them.
