News Broadcasting
Twenty years and counting, CNN News18 still makes sense
MUMBAI: If news had a memory, CNN News18 would be one of its longest running conversations. As the English news channel completes 20 years on air, it steps into its third decade with a familiar promise intact delivering news that cuts through the clutter and, quite simply, makes sense.
Launched in 2005, the channel has grown alongside a rapidly changing media landscape, balancing breaking news with depth, perspective and global context. Its long standing collaboration with CNN continues to bring international reporting into Indian living rooms, while keeping domestic stories firmly rooted in citizen first journalism.
That philosophy has translated into consistent viewership leadership. Since the resumption of BARC ratings in March 2022, CNN News18 has held on to the top position week after week, particularly during key news hours and major national moments when audiences look for clarity rather than cacophony.
Earlier this year, the channel refreshed its on screen identity with a cleaner, more immersive design built on the idea of One Screen, One Form, One Stream. The shift favours stronger visuals and fewer words, allowing stories to breathe while ensuring the content travels seamlessly across television and digital platforms.
Reflecting on the milestone, CNN News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said the channel’s journey has been driven by a focus on accuracy and restraint. The aim, he noted, has always been to deliver news without noise and engage viewers with sharp, credible journalism.
Network18 CEO of english and business news Smriti Mehra described the 20 year mark as a reflection of trust earned over time. She added that the channel would continue to innovate while holding firm to the fundamentals of responsible journalism.
With a strong newsroom, an expanding digital footprint and an emphasis on data led and immersive storytelling, CNN News18 enters its next chapter much as it began two decades ago intent on explaining the world, not shouting about it.
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.
