News Broadcasting
CNBC-TV18 leads budget day ratings with 83.5 per cent share
Business news leader dominates FM speech and market hours
MUMBAI: When the finance minister rose to deliver the Union Budget on 1 February, viewers tuned in with one clear preference. CNBC-TV18 captured a commanding 83.5 per cent market share during the speech, underlining its position as India’s most-watched business news channel.
The figures, sourced from Barc India for Week 5 of 2026, show the channel drawing in the lion’s share of viewers between 11.00 am and 12.30 pm, the crucial window when policy pronouncements meet market nerves.
The dominance did not stop once the speech concluded. Across key market hours from Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, CNBC-TV18 delivered an even stronger 84.9 per cent share in the 10L plus markets among the 22 plus AB male audience. In a week when traders track every syllable and investors weigh every comma, the channel remained firmly in command.
Over the full 24-hour budget day cycle, CNBC-TV18 retained a clear lead within the business news genre, securing a 75 per cent market share nationwide. The numbers suggest sustained engagement well beyond the headline moments, reflecting continued viewer trust as markets digested the fine print.
With a 26-year legacy built on credible journalism and real-time market insight, CNBC-TV18 once again proved that when India Inc., policy makers and investors seek clarity amid economic crosscurrents, they know exactly where to turn.
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.
