Mumbai: Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. reported a 10.3% year-on-year increase in consolidated operating revenue for the first quarter of FY27, supported by strong election-related advertising, growing digital engagement, and continued expansion of its Connected TV and digital businesses.
The media company posted operating revenue of ₹516 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, compared with ₹468 crore during the same period last year.
Operating Performance Improves
Network18’s operating expenses increased by 9.7% year-on-year to ₹509 crore, while operating EBITDA doubled to ₹8 crore, up from ₹4 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY26.
The company attributed its improved performance to higher advertising demand during the West Bengal and Tamil Nadu state elections, although it noted that broader market conditions remained challenging.
According to the company, government advertising contributed positively to industry growth, while private-sector advertising remained subdued due to geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia and concerns surrounding a weaker monsoon outlook.
Advertising Performance Outpaces Industry
Despite a challenging advertising environment, Network18 reported stronger-than-industry growth.
Key highlights include:
- Advertising inventory consumption increased 10% year-on-year
- Industry-wide advertising inventory growth was estimated at 3%
- Non-government advertising inventory consumption grew around 2%, while the broader industry witnessed a decline of over 10%
The company said its diversified television and digital portfolio, along with growing monetisation from Connected TV (CTV) platforms, helped drive advertising performance.
Digital Business Continues to Expand
Network18 said it retained its position as India’s largest digital news and information network, citing Comscore’s May 2026 Total Digital Population Report.
The company reported:
- More than 350 million monthly digital users
- Over 32 billion social media video views during the quarter, representing a 31% sequential increase
- A combined social media community exceeding 472 million followers
These metrics underline the company’s continued focus on audience engagement across digital platforms.
Strong Performance Across News Brands
The company stated that its television news channels recorded the highest live concurrent viewership in their respective markets during the announcement of state election results.
Additionally, 15 Network18 channels secured the top position within their respective categories during June 2026.
Moneycontrol Continues Subscription Growth
Financial platform Moneycontrol remained a major contributor to Network18’s digital ecosystem.
The company announced that:
- Moneycontrol Pro has surpassed one million paid subscribers
- The platform expanded its secured lending marketplace by partnering with:
- Muthoot Finance
- Muthoot Fincorp
- Rupeek
- DSP Finance
- New premium features, including Portfolio X-Ray, were introduced
- The AI-powered Super Pro subscription continued to attract new subscribers
News18.com and Firstpost See Audience Growth
Network18 also reported positive momentum across its flagship digital brands.
News18.com recorded:
- An 8% sequential increase in unique users
- More than 10% growth in average session duration
The platform also introduced an Election Analytics Centre, which helped increase user engagement during state election coverage.
Meanwhile, Tech2 was relaunched with new AI-powered capabilities, reflecting the company’s broader investment in artificial intelligence-driven content experiences.
Firstpost expanded its original programming and generated more than 270 million YouTube video views, with over half of its audience coming from international markets, according to the company.
Chairman Highlights Mixed Industry Environment
Commenting on the quarterly performance, Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman of Network18, said:
“The quarter gone by was a mixed one, for us as well as the industry. While on one hand, state elections gave a boost to advertising revenue, the ongoing geopolitical conflict and weak monsoon forecast were dampeners for the macroeconomic mood. Government interventions on the viewership ratings have also been negative for the sentiments of the industry. Despite these developments, we are fully focused on making our products better by ensuring that they serve their consumers effectively, so that when the macro environment improves, we are in the right position to benefit from it.”
Outlook
While macroeconomic conditions remain uncertain, Network18 continues to invest in digital innovation, subscription-led products, AI-powered content experiences, and Connected TV monetisation.
With a growing digital audience, expanding subscription base, and diversified media portfolio, the company aims to strengthen its leadership position across India’s television, digital news, and financial information segments.
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