India’s leading media conglomerate, Network18, has reported a resilient financial performance for the third quarter of FY26. Despite a challenging macro advertising environment where the broader TV news industry saw a 10% year-on-year decline in inventory demand, Network18 posted a 5% rise in operating revenue, reaching Rs 500 crore.

This steady growth highlights the network’s robust operational efficiency and its ability to withstand industry-wide headwinds through a diversified portfolio and a dominant market presence. For the first nine months of the financial year, the network recorded a 2.4% revenue increase, even when measured against the high base of the previous year’s election-driven ad spends.

Network18 continues to innovate its revenue streams, notably through the expansion of Creator18, its creator-led advertising vertical. The roster has now grown to over 60 exclusive creators, with the top 10 alone reaching a staggering two billion users. Major global brands, including Samsung, OpenAI, Swiggy, and Quillbot, have utilized this vertical to scale their digital outreach.

In another major strategic move, the network renewed its 10-year partnership with CNN International, extending the brand and content licensing agreement until 2035. This long-standing collaboration reinforces CNN-News18’s position in the English news segment while planning an expanded global digital footprint across YouTube and Connected TV (CTV).

Network18 has maintained its title as India’s largest news network, with its TV viewership share climbing by 110 basis points to 14.2%. The network’s digital reach remains unparalleled, attracting approximately 300 million monthly users.

Moneycontrol emerged as a significant growth engine this quarter, delivering twice the page views of its nearest competitor. Its premium subscription service, Moneycontrol Pro, successfully crossed the milestone of one million paid subscribers, cementing its status as India’s premier digital news subscription platform.

Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman of Network18, remarked that the network’s ability to defy industry trends is a testament to its scale and focus on strengthening its position as India’s premier news destination. As the network looks ahead, sequential improvements in Operating EBITDA (Rs 11.8 crore) and margins (2.4%) indicate a positive trajectory for the upcoming quarters.

Key Highlights:

• Financial Resilience: Network18 reported a 5% YoY revenue growth (Rs 500 crore) in Q3 FY26, significantly outperforming a TV news ad market that declined by 10%.
• Digital Milestones: Moneycontrol Pro surpassed one million paid subscribers, while the overall digital network reached 300 million monthly users.
• Strategic Verticals: The expansion of Creator18 to over 60 creators and a 10-year renewal of the CNN partnership highlight the network’s focus on future-ready platforms.
• Viewership Growth: The network’s TV viewership share rose to 14.2%, with News18 India, CNBC-TV18, and CNN-News18 leading their respective genres.