Network18 Media & Investments reported a 10% year-on-year revenue increase to ₹516 crore for the first quarter of FY27. Profitability improved as consolidated EBITDA reached ₹8 crore, supported by strong ad volumes and digital engagement. Investors will track whether this momentum continues as the company focuses on product growth amid a mixed macroeconomic environment.
Network18 Media & Investments Limited has reported a 10% year-on-year increase in its consolidated operating revenue, touching ₹516 crore for the first quarter ending June 2026. This performance marks the fourth consecutive quarter of growth for the media house. The company’s consolidated EBITDA also showed improvement, rising 80% to ₹8 crore from ₹4 crore in the same period last year. Consequently, the EBITDA margin moved to 1.5%, up from 0.9% in the previous year.
Ad Performance and Digital Growth
The company’s advertising business grew significantly, with ad inventory consumption increasing by 10%. This figure notably outpaced the broader media industry’s 3% growth during the same period. While much of the industry’s growth relied on government and political campaigns, Network18 reported a 2% rise in non-government advertising inventory. The company also highlighted early revenue traction from advertising on Connected TV screens, an emerging segment for the media sector.
On the digital front, the company reported 32 billion views across its social platforms, a 31% increase compared to the previous quarter. Its financial news platform, Moneycontrol, continues to be a key asset, with its subscription-based service, Moneycontrol Pro, reaching a milestone of over 1 million paid subscribers. The digital strategy remains focused on scaling high-engagement platforms like News18.com and Firstpost, the latter of which has seen significant international viewership.
Sector Context and Strategic Outlook
Management noted that while the current media landscape remains mixed, state elections in regions like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu provided a boost to advertising revenues. However, the company faces pressure from broader macroeconomic factors, including geopolitical uncertainties and variable monsoon forecasts, which can influence overall advertising budgets.
Network18 is currently balancing its expansion in digital and connected media with the volatility inherent in the traditional television ad market. While the improvement in EBITDA margins is a positive signal for operational efficiency, the margins remain in the low single digits, which is a common characteristic of large-scale media companies investing heavily in digital infrastructure and content acquisition. Investors looking ahead may monitor the company’s ability to maintain its lead in digital time-spent metrics against competitors and how effectively it converts this engagement into sustainable, long-term advertising and subscription revenue.