Network18 Media & Investments has reported a 9.4% rise in consolidated operating revenue for the September quarter, to Rs 545 crore from Rs 498 crore a year ago. It is the company’s fifth consecutive quarter of growth. The numbers came as ad inventory consumption in the news genre fell by about 13%, hit by the West Asia conflict, a weak monsoon and the television ratings blackout. Government-linked advertising stayed strong for the second straight quarter.
Operating EBITDA margin improved to 3.4% (Rs 19 crore), against -0.1% a year earlier. Growth was driven mainly by the content studio subsidiary, while Connected TV emerged as a bright spot. H1 revenue rose 10% to Rs 1,061 crore from Rs 966 crore, with an H1 FY27 EBITDA margin of 2.5%. Chairman Adil Zainulbhai called the performance resilient, citing a focus on core offerings, audience engagement and execution.
Digital remained the network’s strongest card. It reported about 330 million monthly users and over 15 billion YouTube views (up 17% YoY), roughly twice its nearest rival. Social followers crossed 470 million, and CTV engagement grew 27%. Moneycontrol Pro crossed one million paid subscribers and added features like Corp Lens and Stock Note.
News18.com saw unique users rise 7% sequentially, helped by AI-powered FAQs and a dedicated Commonwealth and Asian Games section. Firstpost neared 10 million YouTube subscribers. With TV ratings suspended for over six months in news, the network pointed to its pre-suspension lead: 13.8% viewership share and a monthly reach of 230 million.
