News Broadcasting
NewsX-MRC Exit Poll: BJP leads in UP, Punjab Congress vs AAP
MUMBAI: As the political battle for power in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa drew to a close after the last vote was cast in the final phase of the Assembly Elections, NewsX-MRC Exit Poll gave a clear indication of how the voters cast their ballot for the ultimate show of power in the states which went to polls.
The results of the NewsX-MRC Exit Poll indicate that Uttar Pradesh looks all set for a major overhaul with the BJP making inroads to the seat of power in the state while the SP-Cong alliance tries to give them a run for their money; Punjab offers an interesting mix with a severe jolt to the ruling SAD-BJP combine as Congress and AAP go neck-and-neck in the crucial state; BJP may form a government in Uttarakhand; the Goans seem to be mixed in their reception as BJP, Congress and AAP all seem to be getting a piece of the pie.
NewsX-MRC Exit Poll data from Uttar Pradesh suggests the state may see a major swing of fortunes for the BJP and the party may finally take the mantle of governance from the Samajwadi Party with the BJP projected to win 185 (+/- 3) seats. The SP-Congress alliance is projected to bag 120 (+/- 3) seats while the BSP comes third with 90 (+/- 3) seats.
Punjab is another potboiler with a big change in the air as the ruling SAD-BJP combine seems to be taking a massive hit. The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have come out as the biggest gainers from the scenario as they both are predicted to win 55 (+/- 3) seats each.
NewsX-MRC Exit Poll data on Uttarakhand projects that the BJP may emerge as the winner with 38 (+ /- 3) seats. The poll data further suggests that the Congress is a close second with 30 (+/- 3) seats.
NewsX-MRC Exit Poll survey for the recently concluded Goa Assembly Elections gives an indication of a hung house with BJP bagging 15 (+/- 3) seats while the Congress will get 10 (+/- 3) seats. In such a scenario, it would be interesting to see what role AAP plays which is predicted to make it big on 7 (+/- 3) seats.
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.
