News Broadcasting
The Election Tracker
MUMBAI: As a run-up to the upcoming General Elections which are possibly the most crucial Elections in recent times, CNN-IBN & IBN7 are gearing up for their most exhaustive and comprehensive programming related to politics, politicians, elections and the expectations of the people from their leaders.
CNN-IBN & IBN7 began this massive effort with its first round of The Election Tracker in July 2013, which was a one-of-its-kind study that tested the mood of the nation on key governance issues and attempted to track the fortunes of key political leaders; eventually endeavoring to answer the BIGGEST QUESTION – Who will rule India for the next five years? Taking this elaborate study further in the recently concluded 5 State Assembly Elections, both the channels tried to answer all the questions related to the crucial state elections through the Pre-Poll and Post-Poll surveys.
The upcoming round of The Election Tracker on CNN-IBN and Agar Abhi Chunav Hon Toh on IBN7 scheduled from 20th January to 24th January, 2014 will see participation of approximately 17,000 respondents to be surveyed across 20 states with focus on social and political issues of national importance. Based on a rigorous methodology, this study will project voting patterns and likely outcome. The study will be conducted by the ‘Centre for the Study of Developing Societies’ (CSDS).
Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, CNN-IBN, IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat, said, “It is widely believed that India conducts one of the most complex and arguably the most fascinating and exciting elections anywhere in the world. We believe in arming our viewers with extensive and accurate information related to our present political and social scenario, so that they can make informed decisions while voting and take our country forward in the right direction. The Election Tracker aims to do precisely this.”
Watch The Election Tracker on CNN-IBN and Agar Abhi Chunav Hon Toh on IBN7 from 20th Jan to 24th Jan, 2014 @ 8:00 PM.
News Broadcasting
Network18 posts Rs 1,955 crore revenue, narrows FY26 losses
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.
