NDTV posts Rs 80.07 crore loss as Q3 costs surge

NEW DELHI: New Delhi Television Limited showed signs of revenue traction in the December 2025 quarter, but rising costs ensured the broadcaster remained firmly in loss territory, underlining the tough economics of running a 24×7 news operation.

For the three months ended December 31, 2025, NDTV reported standalone revenue from operations of Rs 97.88 crore, a sharp sequential jump from Rs 68.38 crore in the September quarter and higher than Rs 77.93 crore in the same period last year. Including other income, total income for the quarter stood at Rs 99.93 crore.

The topline cheer, however, was quickly drowned out by an even faster rise in expenses. Total costs climbed to Rs 175.78 crore during the quarter, driven by higher production outgo, employee expenses, marketing spends and finance costs. As a result, the company posted a net loss of Rs 80.07 crore for the quarter, widening from a loss of Rs 76.35 crore in the preceding quarter and Rs 59.64 crore a year ago.

Marketing, distribution and promotional expenses remained the single largest pressure point, coming in at Rs 48.89 crore for the quarter, as NDTV continued to push visibility across platforms. Employee benefits expense was close behind at Rs 34.55 crore, reflecting the manpower-heavy nature of news broadcasting.

On a nine-month basis, the story followed a similar script. For the period ended December 31, 2025, NDTV reported revenue from operations of Rs 220.50 crore, compared with Rs 194.55 crore in the corresponding period last year. Yet net loss for the nine months widened to Rs 228.14 crore, from Rs 162.02 crore a year earlier.

The company also recorded an exceptional gain of Rs 4.22 crore during the quarter, offering some relief, though not enough to alter the broader picture. Other comprehensive income remained negative, largely due to remeasurement losses on defined benefit plans.

Earnings per share for the December quarter stood at a loss of Rs 11.84 on a basic and diluted basis, compared with a loss of Rs 10.10 in the September quarter.

While NDTV’s improving revenue suggests traction in advertising and operations, the latest numbers make one thing clear. In the battle between income and expenditure, costs are still calling the shots. For now, the news business remains exactly that. Costly news.