Network18 Q1 revenue down 5.1% as ad spends remain soft

Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. reported a 5.1% year-on-year decline in revenue from operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 (Q1FY26), at Rs. 467.9 crore compared to Rs.493.2 crore in the same quarter last year.

The company posted a standalone net profit of Rs. 516.2 crore, supported by an exceptional income of Rs. 587 crore from the fair valuation of its 24.5% stake in Eenadu Television Private Limited (ETPL), which ceased to be an associate in July 2025. Excluding this one-time gain, the company recorded a loss before tax of ₹70.8 crore.

Total expenses for the quarter stood at Rs. 509.7 crore, down from Rs. 537.5 crore in Q1FY25. Marketing, distribution, and promotional spends were at Rs.113.7 crore, a significant drop from Rs. 159.4 crore in the previous quarter.

The company cited a muted advertising environment, the absence of election-linked advertising, and a sports-heavy programming quarter as factors contributing to softer revenue. According to industry estimates shared by Network18, TV news advertising inventory consumption declined by over 20% YoY.

Network18 continues to maintain a strong presence across TV and digital news platforms in multiple languages. However, the overall advertising outlook for the news genre remains under pressure.

 Adil Zainulbhai, chairman of Network18, said: “Another quarter of strong operating performance, however, persisting macro-economic headwinds meant that it did not translate into a commensurate financial performance. Our steady progress across operating metrics over the last few quarters is a testimony to our vision for the business and the strategic execution of our plans. Our new product launches highlight our forward-looking approach and our endeavor to continue diversifying our business and build new avenues of growth.”