News Broadcasting
News18 India rebrands ‘Danke Ki Chot Par’; challenges status quo
New Delhi, 09 November 2016: Network18 Group has renamed its Hindi general news channel as News18 India. The channel will today unveil a new brand identity, logo and tagline along with a refreshed on-air look. The new avatar of the channel will be revealed at 6.57 pm tonight with the main objective to create a distinct position for itself in the Hindi General News category. The channel’s digital presence will also be revamped with the launch of a newly designed news18india.com
Speaking on the re-launch, Avinash Kaul, Managing Director, A + E Networks | TV18 and President – Strategy, Product & Alliances, said, “We are not just rebranding the news channel, we are also putting into action an entire philosophy, a fresh approach focused on hard hitting journalism. There is constant need to innovate and stay relevant in the rapidly changing news environment. Through this refresh initiative, we intend to capture the viewer’s interest and also ensure impact through our news stories. Today, the viewers are overloaded with choices and information. In the midst of all this clutter, we are trying to create differentiation and relevance for our viewers and are confident about the change that we are actioning.”
In the lead-up to the rebranding, the channel has strengthened its editorial team, introduced new anchors and launched new shows and formats. The refresh will build on this momentum with more impactful content, fresh packaging, and new studios adding to the experience being provided to the viewers.
Prabal Pratap Singh, Consulting Editor, News18 India spoke regarding the new identity of the channel: “Our news channel has seen tremendous energy over the past few months. We have broken several big stories and I feel repositioning ourselves with the tagline “Danke Ki Chot Par” aptly captures the spirit of what we are trying to achieve. Going forward, the channel will continue to ask even more pointed questions with an aim to challenge the status quo. Editorially, the thrust will be on constructive criticism and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that our passion for fearless journalism results in positive impact on society.”
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.
