News Broadcasting
CNN-IBN & IBN7 called the elections an hour before other channels
MUMBAI: CNN-IBN and IBN7 concluded that the Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav led Grand Alliance was set to form the government in Bihar, an hour before rest of the TV channels. CNN-IBN and IBN7 had called the elections and declared that Nitish Kumar was set to retain power on the 8 November at 10:03 am.
Both the channels were miles ahead of other channels in reporting the most accurate figures. By 9:30 am, while all channels were predicting a BJP win, CNN-IBN and IBN7 had already aired that the Grand Alliance was likely to win the elections. Network18’s extensive network of reporters who were present at every counting station all over Bihar tracked the trends and reported the same to the News Centre without any delay, thereby enabling the IBN Network to beat all other competing channels.
Commenting on this, IBN Network CEO Avinash Kaul asserted, “At Network18 we always strive to give our viewers information that they can absolutely rely on. This is yet another example of how we as a news network have the right mix of reporters, anchors and experts, who have the acumen to understand the pulse of politics, analyze the ground reality and bring forth the most accurate news, faster than anyone else.”
Former Union Minister P Chidambaram commented, “I must congratulate CNN-IBN for getting the results first and they got it just around 10am.”
The former CM of Bihar Rabri Devi also congratulated the channels for declaring that they have won, an hour before the others.
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.
