News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 and News18 India bring Special Programming for Karnataka Election
New Delhi, 19th April, 2018: Termed as the big battle between the BJP and the Congress ahead of the General Election in 2019, the upcoming Assembly Election in Karnataka are witnessing high-decibel campaigns from both the parties. As the southern state prepares for the Elections, CNN-News18 and News18 India have lined-up exclusive programming focusing on the blazing battle to keep the viewers updated with all the developments on ground.
‘Battle for Karnataka’, the programming on CNN-News18, will not only comprise of election specific programming such as Poll of Polls, Reporters Project, Campaign Trail but will also include special episodes of primetime shows – Viewpoint, Face-Off Tonight, and News Epicentre hosted by Executive Editor Bhupendra Chaubey, Deputy Executive Editor Zakka Jacob and Political Editor Marya Shakil, respectively, right from Ground Zero, featuring local voices reflecting issues impacting people’s choices. The channel has also launched a campaign ‘#VoiceOfBengaluru’ for its viewers which aims to encourage the people of Bengaluru to voice their issues.
Through ‘Sabse Bada Dangal’, News18 India will delve into all aspects of the election – from daily election bulletin to audience based debates which will have national and regional leaders discussing state level issues and promises made by political parties; from extensive coverage of the polling day to poll of polls. The channel’s popular show ‘Bhaiyaji Kahin’, an on ground show providing a platform to voters to interact with their leaders, will telecast a host of special episodes from across the state.
On Counting Day, the programming on CNN-News18 and News18 India will keep a close track of the results and analyse the implications of the same in detail.
Continuing the legacy of showcasing the elections exclusively, the team of anchors and reporters along with analysts will be covering the campaigns of both national parties on-ground until Counting Day and government formation.
Catch all the action around the Karnataka Elections on CNN-News18 and News18 India, all through April and May.
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.
