News Broadcasting
Writer & journalist Anil Dharker passes away
NEW DELHI: Renowned journalist and writer Anil Dharker has passed away. According to media reports, the 74-year old was a cardiac patient and underwent a bypass procedure at a Mumbai hospital on Thursday.
Known for his vibrant and diverse five-decade-long career, Dharker, apart from his contribution to the world of media and literature, was the founder and director of the Mumbai International Literary Festival. From being the editor of reputed publications like Mid-day and The Independent, he has authored books such as The Romance Of Salt, about Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March. His columns have appeared in a variety of publications both in India and abroad.
The noted journalist was a member of the Advisory Boards of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Doordarshan, the Children's Film Society of India and a member of the advisory committee of the film censor board. He was also responsible for opening the Akashwani Auditorium in south Bombay as an art movie theatre.
Following the news of Dharker's demise, many renowned figures have taken to social media platforms to express their grief and condolences.
Congress leader, writer and former international diplomat Shashi Tharoor tweeted: “Shocked and saddened by the news of Anil Dharker’s passing. The literary world will not be the same without him. His flair, wit and intelligence, his wide-ranging and eclectic tastes (always married to a respect for good writing) and his talent and energy for organisation make him irreplaceable.”
Veteran journalist and talk show host Vir Sanghvi wrote: "Devastated to hear about Anil Dharker. He epitomised the caring and socially concerned Mumbai intellectual. He elevated every job he did from promoting art cinema to editing mags to running Lit Live. In 1984 he gave me my first column. A great loss to India and to me personally.”
Poet, lyricist and chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) Prasoon Joshi tweeted: “Saddened to hear about Anil Dharker passing away. Will miss and cherish the discussions we had about life. A stimulating mind, nurturer of literature and art who thrived on ideas.”
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.
