NDTV Seeks I&B Ministry's Permission To Launch 9 News Channels

NDTV Seeks I&B Ministry’s Permission to Launch 9 Vernacular News Channels

NDTV

Media company

Founders: Prannoy Roy, Radhika Roy
Subsidiaries: NDTV News Limited, NDTV Networks Limited, MORE
Founded: 1988
Headquarters: New Delhi
Parent: Adani Group (64.71%)

During a meeting held on May 17th, the Board of Directors of New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) granted approval for a proposal to request the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for permission to launch nine news channels in various Indian languages.

For the quarter ending March 2023, NDTV reported a significant decline in net profit. The company’s net profit dropped by 97.5% to INR 59 lakhs compared to INR 24.16 crore in the same quarter of the previous year. Consolidated revenue from operations also experienced a decline, decreasing by 35.5% to INR 66.96 crore from INR 103.8 crore in the previous year.

In an effort to reduce external borrowings, NDTV took measures to lower it to INR 3 crore during the reviewed quarter, down from INR 9 crore in the previous year. The company’s cash and cash equivalents for the quarter amounted to INR 103.6 crore, showing a decrease from INR 116.4 crore in 2022.

In its filing, NDTV mentioned that the EBITDA margins were impacted by INR 4.80 crore due to one-time expenses related to severance pay and one-time write-off provisions.

On December 30, 2022, AMG Media Networks Ltd (AMNL) acquired a 27.26% stake in NDTV through its subsidiary RRPR Holding Private Limited. This acquisition resulted in AMNL holding a controlling interest of 64.71% in the media company.

Gautam Adani, the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, expressed pride in supporting NDTV by providing top-tier personnel and infrastructure. Adani envisions transforming NDTV into a successful global news company across various platforms. Following a contentious dispute, the Adani Group, a conglomerate with interests in ports and energy, now holds an approximate 64.7% stake in NDTV through its entities RRPR Holding and Vishvapradhan Commercial.

Channels and subsidiaries

NDTV currently runs three broadcast channels, consisting of two news channels and one infotainment channel. The company also holds stakes in three additional channels, which are operated through joint ventures. Alongside these channels, NDTV has established subsidiary companies to provide auxiliary services.

One such subsidiary is NDTV Labs, a research and development company dedicated to enhancing the production processes within the group. Additionally, NDTV has NDTV Emerging Markets, a consultancy firm established to support the launch of NDTV news channels in international markets beyond India.