Network18, India’s largest TV news network, has announced a remarkable performance in the first quarter of FY25, showcasing substantial growth in both its television and digital news sectors. The company’s TV news business experienced a 14 percent revenue increase, while the digital news segment saw an impressive 34 percent rise.

In Q1FY25, Network18’s TV news division recorded a revenue of Rs 385 crore, up from Rs 337 crore in the same quarter of FY24. This growth is largely attributed to the network’s strong market positions across various genres and its comprehensive coverage of the general elections. The network leveraged its leadership positions and election-linked advertising opportunities, resulting in a 30% increase in advertising revenue during the quarter.

Network18’s TV news portfolio achieved an EBITDA of Rs 40 crore in Q1FY25, marking a significant 46 percent year-on-year increase. This growth was driven by a 14 percent revenue increase while maintaining stable costs. The network’s all-India TV viewership share rose to 11.3 percent, a 40 basis point increase from the previous quarter, due to its extensive election coverage.

The network maintained its dominance in crucial markets, with CNBC-TV18 leading the business news segment with a 66.2 percent viewership share, CNN-News18 topping the English news segment with a 35.8 percent share, and News18 India securing a 13.5 percent share.

Network18 also led in state-level news coverage through its 14 regional channels, holding leadership positions in UP/Uttarakhand, Bihar/Jharkhand, and Gujarat, and strong second positions in West Bengal, Rajasthan, Orissa, and Punjab/Haryana.

Network18’s extensive reach continued, with the TV news network reaching 200 million people weekly nationwide. On the day of vote counting, News18’s reach was 50 percent higher than that of the IPL finale on TV, underscoring its popularity and trust among viewers.

Network18’s digital news business also demonstrated robust growth, with a 34 percent revenue increase in Q1FY25, reaching Rs 109 crore compared to Rs 81 crore in the same quarter of FY24. The digital portfolio saw a significant rise in monthly unique visitors, closing the reach gap with the industry leader to just 10 percent, a substantial improvement from over 50 percent in March 2023.

Moneycontrol remained the top player in reach and engagement metrics, with all key engagement indicators such as monthly page views, time spent, and sessions being 20 percent-70 percent higher than the nearest competitor. Moneycontrol Pro also strengthened its position with over 810,000 paid subscribers, making it the number one subscription-based news platform in India and among the top three in Asia, according to FIPP’s Digital Subscription Report.

News18.com established itself as the leading platform for non-English language consumers in India, achieving a 50 percent quarter-on-quarter growth in monthly average unique visitors and a 100 percent year-on-year increase in on-platform video views. The News18 mobile app saw a doubling of monthly active users, and the Connected TV app was launched on platforms like Android, Samsung Tizen, and Firestick.

Firstpost continued to grow its reach and engagement through its coverage of international events from an Indian perspective. The platform experienced a 67 percent increase in monthly active users and page views since the launch of its revamped website. On vote counting day, Firstpost’s traffic doubled compared to normal days, with time spent on the site increasing fourfold. The platform also saw significant growth on YouTube, with its subscriber count surpassing the 5 million mark.

Network18’s performance in Q1FY25 highlights our commitment to delivering quality news content across both TV and digital platforms. Our leadership in key markets and the significant growth in our digital news business demonstrate our ability to adapt and thrive in the evolving media landscape.

Network18’s impressive growth in Q1FY25 underscores its strong market position and its ability to leverage key opportunities, setting a positive tone for the rest of the fiscal year.