News Broadcasting
News18 Network’s Rising Rajasthan to be held in Jaipur
MUMBAI: Rising Rajasthan is being organized by News18 Network today at the Clarks Amer in Jaipur.
The event will have the CM Vasundhara Raje as well as top political leaders speak extensively on the state’s development priorities and various government programmes. The discussion is also likely to focus on the elections in the state that are scheduled for next year and how the current government is likely to approach the same. The event will have several panel discussions with senior ministers including Road and Transport & PWD minister, Yunus Khan; Panchayati Raj and rural development minister, Rajendra Singh Rathore; urban development and housing minister, Shrichand Kriplani; Medical and Health Minister, KalicharanSaraf; Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Gajendra Singh Khimsar and President, State Finance Commission, Dr. Jyoti Kiran.
Rising Rajasthan will also have representation from the opposition with the opening session featuring Dr. CP Joshi, General Secretary, All Indian Congress Committee who will speak on the future of the Congress party and the strategy that it is likely to adopt going forward.
The event will not only facilitate discussions on key political and policy related issues but will also focus on individuals who have been the flagbearers of social change and/or those who have shown exemplary courage in challenging situations. Panelists including IPS, SarojKumari; Social Activist, Mridula Bhasin; Former Zila Pramukh, Pali, Khushveer Singh and Social Activist Hema Shah will speak of transformational initiatives that have had a huge impact on society at large.
A session featuring inspiring stories of heroism will have Colonel Ram Singh (A 100-year old brave soldier and founder of 15 Kumaon Regiment); NaikDigendra Kumar (Winner of MahaVir Chakra; fought in Kargil War in 1999, captured Tololing from Pakistan and hoisted the Tricolor Flag of India); Major DeepikaRathore (The First Woman to climb Mount Everest twice) and CRPF Commandant Chetan Cheetah (who was shot 9 times during an encounter with terrorists in Kashmir) speak about their life and experiences.
The event will end with a key note address by and a special interaction with chief minister Vasundhara Raje who will speak about her government’s approach to development, governance and areas of priority. The CM will also felicitate widows of soldiers who attained martyrdom during the Kargil War.
ETV News Network group editor Rajesh Raina said that “The Rising Series is a platform from News18 Network which has gathered tremendous momentum over the past few months. This event facilitates engagement with top state leaders from across the political spectrum on critical issues pertaining to growth of the State. With the State elections scheduled to happen next year in Rajasthan – ‘Rising Rajasthan’ will provide an ideal platform to discuss and debate issues that will form the core of the political discourse in the State.”
Adding to the above A + E Networks | TV18,Network 18 president strategy, product and alliances managing director Avinash Kaul said, “We are extremely excited about the Rising Rajasthan event. For us as a Network, Rajasthan is an extremely important market especially given the fact that ETV Rajasthan is the state’s No. 1 news channel. Our programming has always been about our viewers and their interests. Rising Rajasthan will not only raise issues of development but will, on the solemn occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, also remember those brave sons of the state who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation during the Kargil War.”
The event will be covered on ETV Rajasthan, News18 India and CNN-News18 starting 5pm
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.
