News Broadcasting
News18 UP/Uttarakhand undergoes makeover ahead of UP polls
Mumbai: News18 Uttar Pradesh/ Uttarakhand has revamped its studios, introduced new GFX, refreshed packaging of all shows as it gears up for the coverage of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections next year.
The channel has donned a new premium look and fresh style of presentation under managing editor Amish Devgan. It will also expand its political coverage by launching new properties around elections.
According to the statement shared by the network, the new studio to be used for news presentation, interviews, debates and discussions will have multiple set options along with stylised shooting angles, advance lighting, and a state of the art LED display wall for animations, graphics and multiple guest interaction windows as well as a touch screen to give a user driven experience and go into deeper analysis.
It has also planned special programming for the upcoming UP assembly elections, and will not only host politicians from across the spectrum but will also have elaborate ground reporting through its vast reporters’ network. The channel has planned a new show – ‘Voter Ganga Kinare Wala’ that will cover upwards of 100 assembly seats situated along Ganga from Haridwar to Ballia. Another show that is already on air is ‘Chunavi Road Show’ that will cover 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh.
News18 Network, Hindi News CEO Karan Abhishek Singh said, “In terms of our bouquet of regional Hindi news channel, News18 Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand is undoubtedly one of our critical products since it serves the most populous state of the country. Our endeavour with this change is to break the mould of how news has so far been served in the region and bring a world class viewing experience both in terms of content and the channel’s packaging to the audiences in the region especially given that both UP and Uttarakhand are heading into elections. We are confident that the channel with be very well received in its news avatar which will further reinforce the channel’s position as a thought leader in the state.”
News18 Uttar Pradesh/Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh/Chhattisgarh, & Rajasthan managing editor Amish Devgan said, “We have always looked at News18 Uttar Pradesh/ Uttarakhand as the channel that sets the agenda for our competition to follow. It is with this thought process only that we have undertaken the re-packaging of the channel especially now as we head into the biggest ever state elections of this country. We will bring to our viewers the most advanced viewer experience in the region. Our viewers have always trusted us and depended on us and this change will only further strengthen our relationship with our viewers.”
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.
