News Broadcasting
IBN7, third most watched Hindi news channel: TGI
MUMBAI: Taking its rich legacy of being India’s channel of Impact forward, IBN7 has marked its position in the top three Hindi News Channels as per the latest TGI survey.
TGI (Target Group Index) is a global market research conducted across 72 countries. In India, this study is conducted by IMRB. This study is considered as the most relevant for media agencies and advertisers for developing strategies and understanding consumer segments since it gives insights on consumption across 300 categories. The latest round of this study – Wave 2 (March-May, 2014+ Aug-Oct, 2014) had a sample size of 29,212 from Urban India, HSM (SEC ABC 15-55 years). Overall the study has a sample size of 40,000 (approx).
IBN7 had repositioned itself with a new tag line ‘Hausla Hai’ in mid-October. A fresh and positive perspective, a committed team of reporters, new shows and pacier & cleaner graphics have ensured that IBN7 stands out in the cluttered Hindi News genre. IBN7 has been dedicated to providing coverage which no other network can match. The channel is focused on providing more and more news as opposed to views and opinions that have become the norm on most news channels.
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.
