News Broadcasting
News18 Network lines up extensive programming for the foundation laying of Ayodhya Ram Mandir
NEW DELHI: News18 Network has announced extensive programming, including comprehensive mythology-based shows, debates, shows on the history of Ayodhya, stories around important places and temples in the city, and special segments on the structure of the proposed temple, for the foundation laying of Ram Mandir. All channels of the Network will broadcast this special line-up of shows, as regional channels also explore specific local myths and stories associated with Lord Ram, it shared in a press statement.
The Network’s national Hindi news channel, News18 India will lead the reportage with debates, shows with renowned poets and singers, as well as live programming from the ground zero. Under the umbrella branding of ‘Ram Lala Hum Aayenge’, News18 India has lined-up interactive shows fronted by the channel’s popular anchor Bhaiyaji, Prateek Trivedi, special shows involving devotional music rendered by the likes of Anup Jalota, Gopal Sharma, Kaushlendra Sharma, Reghvendra Sharma, Shukdev Sharma and Maithili Thakur. Additionally, a special session of poetry dedicated to Lord Ram and the grand temple with renowned poets such as Sudeep Bhola, Gaurav Chauhan, Chirag Jain, Kavita Tiwari, and Aman Akshar to name a few, will form the core of the programming offered by the channel. The channel will also do exclusive discussions with top political figures and Union Ministers including Ram Madhav, Prakash Javadekar and Subramanian Swamy.
News18 Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand will also be carrying extensive programming on this historic event. A number of special shows will include discussions and sessions with saints, features on the material to be used in the construction of the Ram Temple, interviews, and shows on the key people behind the Ram Mandir movement. The special reportage will also feature live coverage from ground zero highlighting various rituals and ceremonies leading up to the actual foundation laying.
Other channels from the Network, both Hindi as well as other regional language channels, will also carry special programming leading up to 5th August, the day of the actual ceremony.
On the auspicious day of the Bhoomi Poojan itself, News18 Network will telecast live from Ayodhya and will extensively cover the foundation laying ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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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.
