Network18 Q3 FY26: News Business Revenue Rises 5% YoY; Digital and TV Leadership Sustained

Mumbai, January 14, 2026: Network18 Media & Investments Limited (NSE: NETWORK18, BSE: 532798) reported a steady operating performance in the third quarter of FY26, supported by continued leadership across television and digital news platforms despite a muted advertising environment.

Q3 FY26 Performance Highlights​

During the quarter ended December 31, 2025, the company’s standalone news business operating revenue increased 5 percent year-on-year to ₹500.4 crore, compared with ₹476.4 crore in the corresponding period last year. Sequentially, revenue rose nearly 5 percent over Q2 FY26.
Operating expenses for the news business stood at ₹488.6 crore, broadly in line with revenue growth, reflecting disciplined cost management. Operating EBITDA came in at ₹11.8 crore, up from ₹11.6 crore a year ago and significantly higher than ₹7.4 crore reported in the previous quarter. Operating EBITDA margin for the quarter was maintained at 2.4 percent.
For the nine-month period ended December 2025, standalone news business revenue increased 2.4 percent year-on-year to ₹1,408 crore, despite a high base in the previous year driven by election-related advertising.

Standalone News Business Snapshot​

TV News Leadership Remains Intact​

Network18 continued to retain its position as the country’s largest television news network, with a portfolio of 20 channels across national and regional languages. During the quarter, TV viewership share improved by 110 basis points year-on-year to 14.2 percent.
The network maintained leadership positions across key markets, including Hindi, English, Marathi, and Kannada, while retaining a strong presence in Bengali and other Hindi-speaking regional markets. Monthly TV reach crossed 230 million viewers, significantly ahead of peers.

Digital Platforms Drive Scale and Engagement​

On the digital front, Network18 sustained its position as the leading digital news and information network in India, reaching nearly 300 million users per month across platforms. The company continued to dominate YouTube, recording over 16 billion video views during the quarter, more than 2.5 times that of the nearest competitor.
Moneycontrol strengthened its leadership in digital financial news, supported by high engagement metrics and a growing subscription base of over one million paid users. The platform also witnessed strong traction in its lending business during the quarter.
News18.com and Firstpost further expanded user engagement through product enhancements, expanded coverage, and rising global viewership, particularly on YouTube.

Creator Economy and Strategic Partnership Update​

Creator18, Network18’s creator-led advertising and content vertical, expanded its exclusive creator roster to over 60 creators. The top 10 creators in its portfolio now command an unduplicated reach exceeding 2 billion across platforms, supporting brand campaigns for several large advertisers.
During the quarter, Network18 also renewed its long-standing partnership with CNN International for a further 10 years. The renewed collaboration is aimed at expanding CNN-News18’s digital footprint across global platforms, including YouTube and connected television, strengthening its presence among international audiences.

Management Commentary​

Commenting on the performance, Chairman Adil Zainulbhai said the company continued to deliver a resilient operating performance despite industry-wide advertising pressures. He added that Network18 remains focused on strengthening its leadership as India’s premier news destination while benefiting from expected improvements in consumer spending.

About the Company​

Network18 Media & Investments Limited is one of India’s largest media groups with interests across television, digital news, and content platforms. The company operates a diversified portfolio of national and regional news channels, along with leading digital brands such as Moneycontrol, News18, and Firstpost. Network18 is listed on both the NSE and BSE.

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