News Broadcasting
News Nation is all prepped up with special content this Bihar Elections
The country is gearing up for its first full-fledged elections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. With the dates approaching, excitement is increasing but there is also a sense of panic. For a total of 243 seats, major political parties are preparing for a fierce battle. Meanwhile the Government maintains that all safety measures would be in place. To ensure proper physical distancing, maximum number of voters per polling station have been brought down from 1600 to 1000. Over 1 lakh polling stations would be set up this time compared to 65,000 stations back in 2015. As per the Election Commission, 7 lakh units of hand sanitisers, 46 lakh masks, 6 lakh PPE Kits, 6.7 lakh face shields and 23 lakh single use gloves have been arranged. While those above the age of 65, suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients, will be allowed to vote through a postal ballot. Also, the timings for polling have been extended by an hour to deal with the expected slower pace of proceedings.
To keep our viewers informed of such information and more, News Nation is all prepped up with special content line up, showcasing all the latest happenings from ground zero. The detailed programming will keep the viewers engrossed about every single unfolding in the state.
With the commitment to bring the most comprehensive coverage, News Nation has launched multitude of shows. The programming will highlight the current situation, connecting the voters and viewers. The Flagship property Abki Baar Kiska Bihar will bring top newsmakers from across the leading political parties, presenting the most impactful debates, discussions and interviews. Other segments under the umbrella branding of Abki baar Kiska Bihar will include a unique travelogue, Jiya ho Bihar ke Lala E-Ha-Chunavi Chakallas, where reporter will be seen interacting with the local people, politicians and gram Pradhan. The intent being to give a platform to the locals where they can be vocal about their concerns as well as expectations from the next Government. Also, we have created a Superfast segment where Anchor will take us through all the latest updates of the day to give our viewers a quick highlight. Backed by a team of highly qualified anchors, reporters and experts, News Nation will offer viewers a vast coverage of Bihar elections.
Mr. Abhay Ojha, President- Sales & Marketing told us “With special content line up created specifically for the elections, we have a perfect package to offer. Sponsors are keenly watching the shows and we are getting positive response from client and agencies, we are hopeful of closing some sponsors soon”.
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.
