Network18 Media & Investments Limited Q1 revenue rises to ₹516 crore

Network18 Media & Investments Limited reported consolidated operating revenue of ₹516.26 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, a 10.34% increase from a year earlier. Election-related advertising supported growth, while a consolidated net loss of ₹38.71 crore and a 1.5% operating margin reflected continued pressure on profitability.

What did Network18 report for Q1 FY27?

Network18 reported unaudited standalone and consolidated financial results for the June 2026 quarter after its board approved them on July 15, 2026. On a consolidated basis, net sales were ₹516.26 crore, compared with ₹467.86 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

Operating profit before depreciation, interest and tax, excluding other income, rose to ₹7.50 crore from ₹4.16 crore a year earlier. This represented year-on-year growth of 80.29%, although the resulting operating margin remained low at about 1.5%.

The company reported a consolidated net loss of ₹38.71 crore for the quarter, against a profit in the year-earlier period, according to the supplied results summary. Separately, its standalone business reported revenue of ₹475.28 crore and a net loss of ₹77.92 crore. The previous year's standalone profit of ₹516.17 crore included a one-time exceptional gain of ₹587.01 crore.

What drove Network18's revenue growth during the quarter?

Network18 said advertising performance during state elections was the main support for consolidated operating revenue growth. Its advertising inventory consumption increased 10% year-on-year, despite a decline in non-government advertising, according to the company’s results announcement.

The company also said it retained its position as India’s largest digital news network, with monthly reach of more than 350 million and strong YouTube viewership. The supplied information does not provide separate digital revenue or advertising revenue figures, so the precise contribution of each platform cannot be quantified.

Costs rose alongside revenue. Network18 attributed higher operating expenses partly to annual employee increments, which affected EBITDA conversion. Interest expense increased 8.37% year-on-year to ₹56.68 crore in the June quarter from ₹52.30 crore, adding to pressure below the operating-profit line.

How do Network18's quarterly and annual figures compare?

Network18's June-quarter revenue was 16.16% lower than the preceding quarter, while remaining 10.34% above the June 2025 level. The quarterly comparison shows that the year-on-year revenue improvement did not translate into a positive consolidated net result.

For the year ended March 2026, consolidated net sales were ₹2,120.82 crore, compared with ₹6,887.92 crore in March 2025. Operating profit before depreciation, interest and tax, excluding other income, was ₹43.66 crore, against a loss of ₹330.29 crore in the previous year. Interest expense for FY26 was ₹204.75 crore, lower than ₹476.81 crore in FY25.

The comparison also requires care because the supplied data identifies an exceptional gain of ₹587.01 crore in the prior-year standalone quarter. That one-time item made the earlier standalone profit materially different from the current period’s loss, limiting a like-for-like reading of net-profit movement.

When will Network18 announce Q2 FY27 results?

Network18's board is scheduled to meet on October 30, 2026, to consider and approve unaudited standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter and half year ended September 30, 2026. The company informed BSE about the meeting through its regulatory filing.

The company had closed its trading window for Q2 FY27 financial results on September 29, 2026. Its annual general meeting was held on September 17, 2026, according to the corporate-announcement information provided.

For investors, the Q2 filing will provide the next disclosed update on advertising conditions, operating expenses, interest costs and profitability. The information supplied contains no share-price movement, analyst forecasts or guidance, so there is no verified basis to quantify an immediate market reaction.

Conclusion

Network18 delivered double-digit year-on-year growth in consolidated June-quarter revenue, supported by election-related advertising and higher advertising inventory consumption. However, thin operating margins, higher interest expense and a consolidated net loss of ₹38.71 crore show that revenue growth has not yet produced sustained profitability in the reported quarter.

The immediate item to watch is the board meeting on October 30, 2026, when Network18 is scheduled to consider Q2 FY27 and first-half results. That disclosure will provide updated figures on revenue, operating performance, interest costs and the company’s financial position after the June quarter.