News Broadcasting
iTV Network appoints MSLGROUP as its PR firm
NEW DELHI: iTV, India’s fastest growing news network has appointed MSLGROUP as its PR agency, to handle the PR mandate for the entire network. iTV Network is going through an expansion phase and aims to emerge as the biggest independent news network in the country. The Network employs more than 2000 people across 25 bureaus and offices in India. With a reach of 91 million viewers & readers across the country the umbrella brand has two national news channels- News X and India News, four regional news channels- India News (Haryana, MP & Chhattisgarh, UP & Uttarakhand and Rajasthan), two newspapers- Sunday Guardian and Aaj Samaj and various digital assets to its portfolio.
Savvy Dilip, Group CMO, iTV Network, said, “We were looking for an agency with expertise in the media segment and found MSLGROUP to be the most effective and credible one. I am hopeful MSLGroup will add value to our brand and help us create brand salience. We are optimistic that this association will further boost the aggressive growth track we are set to follow.”
Jaideep Shergill, Chief Executive Officer, MSLGROUP India, said, “The industry is evolving and clients are looking for strategic and integrated communications that will differentiate them in the marketplace. We are pleased to partner with iTV Network and look forward to take this association to a whole new level with our expertise and media knowledge.”
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.
