- Business
- Network18 Media & Investments Limited Network18 Media & Investments Limited (NETWORK18.NS), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited Reliance Industries Limited, operates as an Indian media conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai and founded in 1996, engages in broadcasting, digital content, print media, filmed entertainment, e-commerce, and allied businesses across television, digital platforms, cinemas, and on-ground events. The company manages India's largest news network through its subsidiary TV18 Broadcast Limited, encompassing business news channels such as CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz; general news channels including CNN-News18, News18 India, and a bouquet of 15 regional language channels covering Hindi, Marathi (News18 Lokmat), Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Odia, Urdu, Punjabi, and Assamese across 26 states; entertainment channels via joint venture Viacom18 featuring brands like Colors, MTV India, VH1, and Nickelodeon; digital properties including News18.com, Firstpost, Moneycontrol (with Moneycontrol Pro surpassing 9.2 lakh subscribers), and JioCinema; print publications such as Forbes India, Better Interiors, and Better Photography; and additional offerings like History TV18 in partnership with A&E Networks. Network18 serves diverse audiences in news, entertainment, sports, movies, and live events, primarily targeting consumers in India with hyperlocal content via Local18 covering nearly 300 districts and global brands through strategic alliances. In recent developments, the company strengthens its regional footprint through the board-approved acquisition of the remaining 50% stake in joint venture IBN Lokmat News Pvt. Ltd. (operator of News18 Lokmat, the leading Marathi news channel) for Rs 25 crore, making it a wholly owned subsidiary as announced in Q2 FY26; advances mergers including the National Company Law Tribunal sanction for TV18 Broadcast and E18 integration with Network18 to form India's largest platform-agnostic news media entity valued over Rs 700 billion; and benefits from the broader Reliance-Disney Viacom18-Star India merger, positioning Network18 for enhanced synergies in streaming with JioCinema, expanded digital monetization via new features on Moneycontrol and News18, content growth in entertainment and sports broadcasting, and operational efficiencies amid government initiatives boosting consumer demand.