News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak adds an animation edge to Singham Returns
MUMBAI: Aaj Tak the nation’s most watched News Channel has taken movie partnerships to the next level with an exclusive tie up with the upcoming mega movie – ‘Singham Returns’ starring Ajay Devgan and Directed by Rohit Shetty.
Aaj Tak leverages on the larger than life role of Ajay Devgan in the film for promotions of the popular show – Halla Bol on the channel. High quality animations have been used in the series of cobranded promos that drive the message of ‘Halla Bol’ and encourage people to boldly take on the burning issues of today.
Speaking on the partnership, the Director of the film Rohit Shetty said: “It is a great and unique video conceptualized by Aajtak and we all are quite happy to see the way it has been created as it will further spread social awareness amongst the people.”
The first video shows the animated character of Singham helping an Ambulance to get out of traffic to reach the hospital. The video is already running01 across TV Channels and digital platforms of the group. Ajay Devgan the lead star of the film has also tweeted about this unique association (All of us have a Singham inside us.
The show Halla Bol runs on weekdays at 6 PM on Aaj Tak and has covered crucial topics of public relevance. The episodes highlight the issues faced by the society and economy while also suggesting on a roadmap to a lasting solution with recommendations from expert panellists.
Ashish Bagga, Group CEO India Today added, “Animation is amongst the most expressive forms of communication and I’m glad that with a strong social message hidden behind the initiative, this will be appreciated across classes.”
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.
