News Broadcasting
Vijay Rawat joins NDTV as executive editor, Hindi digital
NEW DELHI: Vijay Rawat has begun a new chapter in his media career, joining NDTV as executive editor for its Hindi digital operations.
In his new role, Rawat will head NDTV’s Hindi website, strengthening the network’s digital news push. He will be based in the Hindi digital newsroom and will report to Santosh Kumar, Senior Managing Editor, NDTV Hindi Digital.
Rawat brings with him over two decades of newsroom experience, spanning print and digital journalism. He recently concluded a more than nine-year stint with the India Today Group, where he served as executive editor of aajtak.in. His last working day with the group was January 21.
Originally from Gwalior, Rawat brings over 25 years of experience spanning print and digital journalism. He began his career as a staff reporter with Dainik Jagran in Gwalior, before moving on to key editorial roles across prominent Hindi publications such as Haribhoomi, Amar Ujala and Dainik Jagran, working across both reporting and desk functions.
In 2008, he became part of the launch team for Network18’s Hindi digital platform IBNKhabar, now News18 India, where he spent over eight years and rose from copy editor to news editor. He later joined Aaj Tak Digital in 2016 as Assistant Editor, eventually becoming a key part of the India Today Group’s Hindi digital leadership.
Academically, Rawat holds a master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar, along with a postgraduate diploma in journalism from Dr B R Ambedkar University, Agra.
With Rawat at the helm of its Hindi digital newsroom, NDTV is looking to sharpen its editorial edge and deepen its connection with Hindi news audiences in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
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.
