News Broadcasting
Times Network releases ‘Conflict’, a special documentary on COVID -19
Times Network, India's premium broadcast network, releases ‘Conflict’, a special two-part documentary chronicling stories of the lives of frontline warriors who are balancing their commitment to their duty with the love for their families and professionals from the service sector, whose jobs have been impounded due to the enormous impact of COVID-19. Shot cautiously across 4 cities during the lockdown, both documentaries narrate the moving stories of hardships faced by various professionals for the first time ever on Indian Television.
Honouring the frontline workers, who are committed to tackling the virus outbreak with their selfless services and spirited fight against COVID -19, the first part of the documentary ‘Conflict: Life At The Red Line’ will telecast on July 18 at 7pm on TIMES NOW, TIMES NOW WORLD, Mirror Now and LIVE webcast on timesnownownews.com. The documentary is a succinct account on the how frontline workers are treading the pandemic and depicts their daily challenges, scrutiny from the public and balancing their commitment to the duties conflicting with their love for their families. This documentary will feature Dr. Rahul Tambe, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Nanavati Hostpital – Mumbai, Dr. Shweta Jaitly, Senior Resident, Dept. of ENT – VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital – Delhi, Devyani Badwe, Staff Nurse, Nanavati Hospital – Mumbai, Snehal Sawant, Staff Nurse, Nanavati Hospital – Mumbai, Nakul Mangal, Emergency Medical Technician, Max Hospital – Delhi, Shibani Sardar, Janitor, Medica Superspecialtiy Hospital – Kolkata and Akash, an Indian student in France, who was amongst the initial COVID-19 positive patient in India.
Vivek Srivastava, President – Strategy and Business Head, News and English Entertainment Cluster, Times Network said, “A global crisis unlike any, COVID-19 outbreak continues to disrupt the lives and upend the livelihoods of many. It is therefore essential to reimagine and reset our lives and businesses across industries to navigate the pandemic. Chronicling the impact of the pandemic on the lives of a multitude of professionals, the documentary series showcases a compelling narrative of courage and perseverance in our collective fight against the virus. We believe, these stories of resilience are critical to be told as it captures the perspectives of some of the most valiant lives braving the consequences of this pandemic”.
The second part documentary, ‘Conflict: Touch Me Not’ slated to air in August, offers a glance into the lives of service professionals, whose livelihood is depended on human contact. The documentary takes viewers through the alleyways of Mumbai’s Kammatipura, home to thousands of sex workers, to provide a glimpse into their lives, which has come to a standstill during the lockdown and their daily struggle to provide for their children without an active income. The documentary also features compelling stories of a Mehendi artist from Delhi and makeup artist from Mumbai, who are fearing the worst as the negation of human touch, could mean an uncertain future.
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.
