Network18 tops TV viewership in India, surges in digital and fintech despite Rs 1,777cr loss

How did Network18 perform in FY25 and what’s powering its leadership in Indian media?

Network18 Media & Investments Limited closed FY2024-25 with a 4.3% increase in standalone revenue, reaching ₹1,896 crore, even as the Indian television news industry grappled with a 15% decline in advertising inventory. This growth was supported by Network18’s commanding lead in regional TV viewership and an expanding digital footprint, establishing it as India‘s #1 TV news network by both audience reach and product portfolio.

Why is Network18 leading the Indian TV news sector?

Network18’s consistent rise in stock market performance today can be attributed to its strategic realignment toward regional markets. Its 20-channel portfolio now reaches over 180 million weekly viewers, with a 14.1% all-India market share. Its TV viewership share rose 330 basis points year-on-year and 110 bps sequentially in Q4 FY25, driven by rising dominance in languages such as Marathi, Bengali, and Kannada.

Key regional wins include News18 Lokmat and News18 Bangla, both ranked #1 in their markets, and News18 Kannada, now a strong #2. The network maintained leadership in English and business news, with CNN News18, News18 India, and CNBC TV18 holding top positions in their respective categories.

This performance stands out amid broader stock exchange updates today, where many media firms have been affected by volatile ad revenues and digital monetization challenges.

What’s behind the digital success of Moneycontrol and News18.com?

Network18’s digital arm, including Moneycontrol, News18.com, and Firstpost, consolidated its position as a leading online news publishing network with 195 million unique monthly visitors, accounting for 36.4% digital audience share in India.

Moneycontrol Pro remained the #1 subscription-based financial content platform in India with over 1 million paid subscribers, placing it among the top 15 global digital news subscriptions. Its dominance is reflected in engagement metrics, with 3x page views and 2x time spent compared to competitors.

Moneycontrol’s fintech business is rapidly evolving. More than 6 million users have accessed their credit scores, and partnerships with six financial institutions for instant loans and credit card offerings are scaling up. The company recently launched advanced ETF data pages, continuing to support investment news and updates for retail and professional users.

On the news side, News18.com was ranked the second-largest non-English news platform in India. Its mobile-first redesign and AI-powered personalization drove a 38% increase in click-through rates, alongside a 13% increase in monthly views. Regional language presence across 11 Indian languages gave the platform significant visibility among real-time stock exchange news followers in vernacular markets.

How is Firstpost extending Network18’s international presence?

Firstpost emerged as a brand echoing India’s perspective on global matters. Initiatives like exclusive interviews with global leaders, a 24-hour YouTube livestream, and category diversification, particularly in sports, drove 20% traffic growth in the last quarter. The YouTube channel surpassed 7.2 million subscribers, reflecting Firstpost’s position among the fastest-growing news video platforms in India.

What’s the financial snapshot of Network18’s FY25 performance?

Despite muted advertising conditions, Q4FY25 standalone revenue rose 9.5% sequentially to ₹522 crore. However, the figure declined 2.5% YoY due to the high base created by the prior year’s election-linked advertising. Full-year operating EBITDA doubled to ₹33 crore, while the EBITDA margin improved to 1.8% in FY25 from 1.0% in FY24.

On a consolidated basis, the company reported ₹6,888 crore in revenue, down from ₹9,297 crore the previous year, following the demerger of Viacom18’s assets. A one-time exceptional loss of ₹1,435.8 crore was recorded, resulting in a net loss of ₹1,777 crore for FY25.

What’s the story behind the Viacom18-Star India restructuring?

The fiscal year also marked a major strategic transformation with the demerger of Viacom18 and its media assets to Star India, via Digital18. As a result, Viacom18 transitioned from a subsidiary to an associate of Network18. The company recorded a gain of ₹3,498 crore from the transaction in its standalone results. However, the consolidation impact led to significant non-cash losses, including impairment of goodwill and derecognition of non-controlling interest.

These developments significantly impacted latest stock market news around the company, with the transaction reshaping Network18’s future cash flows and equity structure.

What does stock sentiment reveal about Network18?

As of April 20, 2025, Network18 Media & Investments Limited (NSE: NETWORK18) is trading at ₹44.89, reflecting a steep 48.8% drop over the past year. Despite its strong media presence and digital innovation, investor sentiment remains mixed due to losses and restructuring-related uncertainties.

Key financial metrics include a P/E ratio of -3.94, P/B ratio of 0.45, and negative ROE of -5.39%, suggesting that the stock is currently undervalued compared to its book value.

Institutional activity shows a shift in confidence dynamics. Promoter holding decreased from 75% to 56.89%, while Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) increased their stake to 6.61%. Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) held 0.18%, signaling cautious optimism from the institutional side.

Based on current indicators, investment strategies for NETWORK18 could include:

Buy, for high-risk investors who believe in the company’s long-term digital expansion and dominance in regional media markets.

Hold, for existing investors awaiting stronger recovery in profitability post-restructuring.

Sell, for risk-averse investors concerned about near-term losses and stock market trends.

These evaluations are in line with broader in-depth stock market trends and reflect Network18’s complex valuation story amidst a high-growth but high-risk media environment.

Where is Network18 heading in FY26?

Chairman Adil Zainulbhai expressed optimism about the company’s outlook despite macroeconomic headwinds, citing its unmatched regional footprint and growing digital and fintech offerings. The continued audience traction across TV and digital segments positions the company for revenue diversification and operating leverage.

With potential recovery in TV advertising cycles, scaling of Moneycontrol’s lending initiatives, and sharper focus post-Viacom18 restructuring, Network18 is poised to strengthen its presence in India’s fast-evolving media and financial services landscape.