ITV

Tag: India Today

  • TV Today’s FY 25 financials: The quarter’s triumph and the year’s windfall!

    TV Today’s FY 25 financials: The quarter’s triumph and the year’s windfall!

    MUMBAI:  The bean counters at TV Today Network have been busy, and their meticulous work has unearthed some rather telling figures for both the quarter and the full financial year ending March 31, 2025. It seems the broadcast bigwigs are truly raking it in, with revenues and profits looking healthier than a freshly minted pundit on prime time.

    For the quarter ended March 31, 2025, the network saw its revenue from operations climb to Rs 249.17 crores, up from Rs 247.37 crores in the same quarter last year. Total income for the quarter stood at Rs 261.26 crores, a neat bump from Rs 256.47 crores in the prior year’s comparable period. Despite a slight uptick in total expenses to Rs 253.28 crores from Rs 233.31 crores, the company still managed a respectable profit before tax from continuing operations of Rs 7.98 crores, though it was a dip from Rs 23.16 crores reported in the same quarter of the previous year. The net profit for the quarter, however, took a bit of a tumble, landing at Rs 6.23 crores compared to Rs 11.20 crores last year. Basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the quarter were Rs 1.04, down from Rs 2.84 previously.

    Looking at the full financial year ended March 31, 2025, TV Today has certainly been on a roll. Revenue from operations soared to Rs 993.02 crores, a significant jump from Rs 935.91 crores in the previous financial year. The total income followed suit, hitting Rs 1,038.73 crores compared to Rs 973.56 crores in the year prior. While total expenses nudged up to Rs 927.61 crores from Rs 876.97 crores, the company still reported a strapping profit before tax from continuing operations of Rs 111.12 crores, a noticeable improvement from Rs 96.59 crores. The net profit for the year was Rs 74.83 crores, quite the spectacle when pitted against Rs 56.39 crores in the last financial year. This translates to basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of Rs 13.86, a rise from Rs 11.90.

    It’s worth noting the discontinued radio broadcasting operations, which saw a pre-tax loss of Rs 0.03 crores for the quarter and a yearly loss of Rs 10.54 crores, though this is an improvement from the Rs 19.53 crores loss last year. The after-tax loss from these operations was Rs 0.02 crores for the quarter and Rs 7.89 crores for the year, a marked improvement from the previous year’s loss of Rs 14.61 crores. This means the radio business, which is being sold for Rs 20 crores, is no longer broadcasting negative vibes on the balance sheet.

    The chaps at the company are certainly dialling up the good vibes, as their board of directors — led by the ever-present chairman and whole time director Aroon Purie — has just given the nod to a rather fetching final dividend for the financial year ended March 31, 2025. Shareholders are set to pocket a handsome Rs 3 per equity share, a 60 per cent return on the Rs 5 face value. Talk about a cracking payout!

  • Rahul Kanwal to steer NDTV as CEO from June; revenue & losses rise in FY 25

    Rahul Kanwal to steer NDTV as CEO from June; revenue & losses rise in FY 25

    MUMBAI:  In a high-voltage move, New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) has tapped veteran journalist Rahul Kanwal as its new chief executive officer and key managerial personnel, effective 16 June 2025. The appointment, cleared by the board at its meeting on 25 April, awaits the final nod from the ministry of information and broadcasting.

    Kanwal, who resigned as news director of India Today and Aaj Tak, and executive director of Business Today about a fortnight ago, brings more than 25 years of newsroom grit to the corner office. Known for his prime-time presence, election dissections and hard-nosed investigations, Kanwal has built a formidable brand in Indian journalism.

    An alumnus of the general management program at Harvard Business School and a Chevening Scholar, Kanwal honed his reporting chops at Delhi University and Cardiff University, specialising in international broadcast journalism. He is also a Roy Peck Trust Grant awardee for hostile environment journalism — and no stranger to both on-ground turbulence and boardroom manoeuvres.

    Kanwal’s editorial journey spans senior stints at Zee News and Headlines Today, marked by multiple awards for journalistic excellence. As he trades the anchor desk for the CEO’s chair, industry watchers are keen to see whether his instinct for headline-grabbing stories will translate into headline-grabbing strategies at NDTV.

    Meanwhile, the news broadcaster wrapped up FY25 with a cocktail of heady revenue growth and strategic bravado — and a side of losses. Busy transforming itself into a global, next-gen media powerhouse,  NDTV posted a 19 per cent jump in fourth-quarter revenue and a full-year top-line surge of 26 per cent.

    The network’s bold gambit included expansive coverage of heavyweight events like the Mahakumbh and Delhi Elections, alongside marquee brands such as Yuva and the NDTV Auto Awards. Meanwhile, its digital arm raced ahead, clocking a 47 per cent year-on-year jump in users across websites and apps.

    This was no year of half-measures. NDTV went all in — expanding distribution, overhauling its production and digital ecosystems, and splashing out on brand-building. It also widened its portfolio, launching NDTV Marathi to capture regional audiences and NDTV World to beam India’s view to global shores. The year also saw the launch of the ambitious NDTV World Summit, a high-powered gathering of global movers and shakers.

    However, ambition comes at a cost. Heavy investments meant NDTV ended the year in the red — a deliberate sacrifice, the company says, to sow the seeds for sustainable, profitable growth ahead.

    “FY 2024-25 was a defining year where we chose to lead with ambition and invest in the future,” said NDTV executive director and editor in chief Sanjay Pugalia. “We are confident the strategic decisions taken this year will deliver long-term value for our audiences, partners, and stakeholders.”

  • Rahul Kanwal departs from TV Today

    Rahul Kanwal departs from TV Today

    MUMBAI: Rahul Kanwal, the journalistic juggernaut who steered India’s top news channels through tumultuous times, has resigned from the TV Today group.

    After a two decade plus -long innings at the broadcasting powerhouse, Kanwal is hanging up his microphone as news director of India Today and Aajtak, and executive director of Business Today. His departure marks the end of an era for a newsman who became the face of prime-time journalism in the subcontinent.

    The Harvard-educated presenter transformed the group’s digital footprint with remarkable alacrity. Under his watch, the 30-year-old Business Today brand underwent a digital metamorphosis that rivals would kill for.
    At the helm of a 500-strong reporting army, Kanwal’s editorial empire reached a staggering 400 million viewers monthly. The Newstrack anchor, famous for his centrist “question all, take no prisoners” approach, created waves by establishing the Data Intelligence Unit and Anti-Fake News War-Room when misinformation was running rampant.

    The Chevening fellow’s career trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric—from humble beginnings as a reporter at Zee News in 1999 to conquering the summit of Indian broadcast journalism over his 23-year career.
    Kalli Purie, vice-chairperson of the India Today Group, described Kanwal’s journey as “the quintessential India Today Group narrative—an extraordinary journey of organic growth, limitless opportunities, and a meteoric rise that benefited both sides.”

    In an internal memo to staff, Purie acknowledged their 22-year collaboration: “We’ve worked closely together, built formidable teams, created powerful editorial IPs, and traversed the length and breadth of our incredible country, collecting memories that will last a lifetime. Our newsroom is the envy of the media ecosystem.”

    She added: “Change is never easy, but as news professionals, it is our very lifeblood. It is what drives us forward. There is just so much to do as AI is again opening a new doorway, an exciting inflection point for content creators.”

    The CEO expressed confidence in the team Kanwal leaves behind: “He has mentored a strong second line, which is locked and loaded for what comes next. It’s now your turn to shine.”

  • Nimar Sarkaria joins Network18 as VP-content solutions

    Nimar Sarkaria joins Network18 as VP-content solutions

    MUMBAI: Veteran media professional Nimar Sarkaria has stepped into a new role as vice president – content solutions & network campaigns at Network18 Media & Investments Ltd, bringing over two decades of industry experience to one of India’s leading media conglomerates.

    Sarkaria joins Network18 after a brief but impactful nine-month stint as national sales head – branded content at India Today. Her appointment signals Network18’s aggressive push to bolster its content monetisation strategies across its vast portfolio of television and digital assets.

    Before her India Today chapter, Sarkaria spent over a decade in two separate stints at NDTV, most recently serving as senior vice president – brand solutions (sales) for more than four years. During her tenure, she led a 12-member team and developed monetisation strategies that significantly boosted the network’s revenue streams.

    Sarkaria’s CV reads like a who’s who of Indian media houses, with previous roles at Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (Times Group), Hindustan Times, CNBC TV18, Buena Vista Television, and Sony Pictures Networks India. At Hindustan Times, she handled an impressive portfolio as general manager of ad For equity.

    Throughout her career, Sarkaria has earned a reputation for exceeding sales targets. Her trophy cabinet includes accolades such as “CNBC TV18 Awaaz Super Achiever,” “Quarter Cracker For Highest Revenue Generation,” and “The Most Promising Team Leader,” underscoring her exceptional performance in the cut-throat world of media sales.

    Based in New Delhi, Sarkaria will be tasked with spearheading Network18’s content solutions initiatives and orchestrating network-wide campaigns in an increasingly challenging and competitive media landscape.

  • Zepto and Škoda tease 10-minute car deliveries, but there’s a catch

    Zepto and Škoda tease 10-minute car deliveries, but there’s a catch

    MUMBAI: Last night, at precisely 9 pm, Zepto turned social media upside down with a cheeky new TVC that had people convinced they’d cracked the code to 10-minute car deliveries. Yes, you read that right.

    Imagine scrolling through the Zepto app, adding a Škoda Kylaq to your cart, and having it delivered before you can even pick a playlist for your first drive. Too good to be true? Well, it is.

    The ad, directed with a mischievous twinkle, never outright says that Zepto will deliver cars. But the visual storytelling cleverly nudged viewers into believing the impossible. The message? A bold synergy between Zepto and Škoda—without a single spoken word confirming the deal.

    And, naturally, media outlets pounced. Business Today, India Today, CarDekho, and a flurry of others sprinted to drop the juiciest headline first. “Zepto to Deliver Škoda Cars in 10 Minutes!” screamed one. “End of Dealerships?” suggested another. The internet had a field day.

    But before the world could collectively lose its mind, Zepto’s co-founder & CEO Aadit Palicha, stepped in at around 7 pm today to clear the air with a LinkedIn post that read: “No, We’re Not Delivering Cars in 10 Minutes… yet. We’ve seen the headlines—Škoda & Zepto delivering cars in 10 minutes?! We love the energy, but let’s clear things up: you won’t be ordering a Škoda Kylaq from the Zepto app (as tempting as that sounds).

    What you can get in 10 minutes? A test drive of the Škoda Kylaq for now 🙂

    But… who knows what the future holds?”

    Aadit

    That last line? A classic cliffhanger. Zepto may not be handing over car keys at your doorstep just yet, but they’ve certainly kept the audience hooked. And let’s be honest, with how fast commerce is evolving, nothing sounds impossible anymore.

    So, while you might not be able to get a brand-new Škoda delivered faster than your morning espresso, the hype around this stunt proves one thing: Zepto and Škoda know exactly how to grab attention.

    What’s next? Supercars on subscription? Jetpack deliveries? One thing’s for sure—2025 is looking exciting.

  • Shobit Arora rejoins Network 18

    Shobit Arora rejoins Network 18

    MUMBAI: A group sales head at CNBC TV18, CNN18 and CNBC Awaaz for the northern region for nearly two years in 2019. Now Shobit Arora has come back to his alma mater as national head connected TV for the same three channels -building them across streaming devices and platforms.

    Shobit who believes heavily in education earned his BA and MA in economics from Guru Nanak Dev university, and followed those up with his MBA in finance from IIPM. He then joined Bennett Coleman & Co where he worked for nine years rising up to become manager. 

    What followed was his transition to TV with stints BTVi as senior manager  north sales (2017-2019, CNBC TV18 (2019-Dec 2020) and India Today  (AGM- connected TV, April 2022-August 2023.

    Shobit then made a surprising move by joining Oracle as a senior enterprise account manager for a short period of six months. After that, he rejoined  India Today as DGM -connected TV (February 2024-December 2024), following which he got the call from Network18 to head the national connected TV business for the three channels.

    Shobit likes to keep himself updated on new tech and has done a smorgasbord of courses: Linkedin Learning’s CMO Foundations Measuring Marketing Effectiveness RoI, NIIT’s Google Adwords Certification, Digital marketing workshops and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure 2023 AI certified Foundations Associate course.

    All these should come handy as he takes the three channels he has charge of into new frontiers.

  • India Affiliate Summit edition 10 concludes on a high note

    India Affiliate Summit edition 10 concludes on a high note

    Mumbai: The tenth edition of the India Affiliate Summit (IAS), organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) was concluded on 8 November. The two-day summit brought together leading marketers, industry experts, and innovators, creating a dynamic forum to explore the latest trends and strategies in performance marketing. The conference featured an expansive expo floor, engaging agenda of keynotes, masterclasses, panel discussions, and networking sessions, providing invaluable insights into the future of the industry.

    The summit commenced with an insightful keynote session by vCommission CEO Parul Bhargava, on ‘Future Trends: Shifting Paradigms of Affiliate Partnerships’. She highlighted the transformative shifts underway in affiliate marketing and the need for brands to adapt to these evolving dynamics. She stated, “Our industry is at a pivotal juncture where embracing change is not only essential but urgent. On the advertiser side, the pillars of transparency, compliance, clean media, and long-term engagement have become fundamental. For affiliates, the focus lies in achieving stability and campaign sustainability.”

    A highlight of the event was the panel discussion on ‘Winning Touchpoints: Less Clicks, More Sales’, featuring insights from Adani Group joint president and chief digital officer Nitin Sethi. Sethi emphasised the importance of precision, personalization through analytics, micro-conversations, mobile voice search, and A/B testing frameworks in today’s competitive market. “In today’s landscape, out of every 100 consumers, about 90 tend to bounce back on the first page. At each stage of the funnel, drop-off rates close to 70-80 percent are common. Even with significant investment to bring in 1,000 customers, conversion rates average only 10-15 percent, which is the industry’s best,” he said.

    NP Digital founder Neil Patel, in a fireside chat on AI, opined, “When you think about your KPIs and business goals, start by asking how AI can help you achieve them. Many marketers run ads, but when AI is used alongside human creativity, it creates a powerful combination. AI can analyze data in real time, helping optimize content and ad strategies on the go. Personally, AI has been instrumental in scaling my content. The next big trend I see coming to social media is live selling it’s already huge in China but hasn’t yet taken off globally. I believe it’s going to generate significant revenue in the near future.”

    India Today CMO Vivek Malhotra while moderating the panel discussion on ‘The Modern Data Stack: Revolutionising Customer Insights and Marketing Agility’, remarked, “In the past 12 months alone, we have collectively gathered more customer consent than in many previous years combined. I believe the key to unlocking future opportunities lies within this consent, empowering us to build more personalized and impactful customer experiences.”

    Indian Express Digital CEO Sanjay Sindhwani commented, “In the media industry, if we look back five years, data largely rested with intermediaries, and we didn’t focus on it as much. Over the last five years, however, we’ve witnessed a tremendous shift. Media now has massive reach and relevance to advertisers, who increasingly seek more definitive, targeted insights. As subscriptions grow, the intersection of technology and marketing becomes even more critical in shaping this data-driven landscape.”

    HDFC Bank SVP Deepak Oram said, “The modern data stack today essentially unifies a brand’s data, encompassing behavioural insights and predictive information. What many tend to overlook, however, is the importance of third-party data and the concept of data reflexes. While it’s relatively easy to hire data engineers in the industry, what’s truly lacking are data reflexes, the ability to quickly and effectively respond to data insights for real-time decision-making.”

    In a panel discussion on ‘Bridging Online and Offline: The Impact of Programmatic Advertising on Consumer Behaviour’, Uniqlo India head of marketing Nidhi Rastogi said, ‘We strategically leverage data from our e-commerce platform to gain insights on order origins, guiding our decisions on store locations and optimizing our product assortment for each market. This data-driven approach is integral to our expansion and product mix strategies. Additionally, programmatic advertising has been highly effective in precisely reaching our target audiences.

    More than 50 stalwarts from the digital marketing ecosystem addressed over 15 engrossing sessions over two days. Over 6500 industry professionals and around 50 exhibitors participated in the summit. Some of the major partners supporting IAS 2024 are vCommission, Valueleaf, Flickstree, Optiminastic, and Seventynine Digital.

  • Andhra’s political turf war heats up on India Today’s ‘Elections on My Plate’

    Andhra’s political turf war heats up on India Today’s ‘Elections on My Plate’

    Mumbai: India Today, an English news channel, is all set to tantalise the taste buds of viewers with a sizzling political showdown accompanied by the spicy culinary delights of Andhra Pradesh through its election special, “Elections on My Plate”.

    The channel’s consulting editor, Rajdeep Sardesai, is currently traversing through the southern state with a unique concept, blending analysis, interviews, and on-ground reports while indulging in the local gastronomy for the audience.

    This Friday, 3 May, Rajdeep is geared up to present exclusive interviews with two political powerhouses of the state – N Chandrababu Naidu, the chief of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and the charismatic Telugu film star Pawan Kalyan,  who leads the regional outfit Jan Sena Party (JSP).

    Andhra Pradesh commands special attention as it gears up to cast its vote for the new Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly simultaneously on 13 May, marking the fourth phase of the seven-phased General Elections 2024.

    Adding intrigue to the Andhra elections is the alliance between Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, who joined forces to challenge the incumbent chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. They have now aligned with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party, which dominated the Andhra polls in 2019, winning 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats and 151 out of 175 seats in the state assembly, has long been perceived as an implicit ally of the national BJP.

    Rajdeep Sardesai engaged in candid discussions with Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada and Pawan Kalyan in Jaggampeta, posing pointed questions in his signature style to elucidate why Andhra voters should support their alliance this time around.

    Previously, Rajdeep interviewed Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy in Visakhapatnam, probing into allegations of corruption against his administration and his authoritative leadership style.

    Keep tuned to India Today to unravel the complexities of Andhra Pradesh politics, capturing the essence of both the visible and underlying dynamics in the state through Rajdeep Sardesai’s insightful interviews with key players shaping the political landscape of Andhra Pradesh.

  • CM Jagan Mohan Reddy discusses key issues with Rajdeep Sardesai

    CM Jagan Mohan Reddy discusses key issues with Rajdeep Sardesai

    Mumbai: Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy gives his first interview on the election campaign. Speaking to India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai, CM Reddy spoke on a wide range of issues. Here are some highlights:

     ‘There is no anti-incumbency on govt or CM… I am asking for votes in my name… It’s bipolar contest in Andhra Pradesh’.

    Andhra Pradesh’s capital city

    ‘Visakhapatnam will be Andhra Pradesh capital’. ‘Visakhapatnam is the biggest city in Andhra Pradesh. With an investment of probably 10,000 crores or 5000 crores over a period of may be 5-10 years, you would actually see Vizag competing with Hyderabad, Bangalore or Chennai over the course of the next 10 years’.

    Stone throwing incident

    ‘TDP’s people threw stones at me’.

    Arrest of Chandrababu Naidu

    ‘Courts deemed it fit for Naidu to be sent to prison for 52 days, then that means he has done something’.

    Jagan Reddy on possibility of post-poll tieup with BJP

    ‘They (Modi, Naidu) are together fighting against me… Where is the question of this hypothetical situation?”

    Jagan Reddy on sister Sharmila leading AP Cong

    ‘The reason I am hurt is because she (Y S Sharmila) will lose deposits. It pains me the most to see her lose deposits’. ‘Chandrababu Naidu, through Revanth, driving my sister and Congress’. ‘Congress party is remote controlled by Chandrababu Naidu’.

    Jagan rejects charges of dynasty politics

    ‘In 2014, somebody could have said about me as dynast… Fifteen years after my father’s death, how can you say I am a dynast?’