Network 18

Network 18 Media & Investments Ltd

Type	Public
Traded as	BSE: 532798 NSE: Network18
Industry	Mass media
Founded	1993
Headquarters	Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Key people	Adil Zainulbhai (Chairman)
Products	Broadcasting Publishing Film Entertainment Web portals
Revenue	₹3,403 crore (US$510 million) (2016)
Number of employees	7,500
Parent	Reliance Industries
Divisions	TV18, Viacom 18 (50%)
Website	www.network18online.com

Network 18 Media & Investments Ltd is an Indian mass media company which is owned and operated by Reliance Industries. Headquartered in Mumbai, India. It has interests in television, print, internet, film, mobile content and allied businesses.

History

The company was incorporated as a private limited company on 16 February 1996. In April 2006, the name was changed from SGA Finance and Management Services Private Limited to Network18 Fincap Private Limited and subsequently in November 2006, it was converted into a Public Limited company. Network18 got listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange on 2 February 2007. The shares of the company of face value of Rs 5 each opened at Rs 312.10 at the NSE and at Rs 300 at the BSE. The same year in December, its name was changed from Network18 Fincap Limited to Network18 Media & Investments Limited.

The Network 18 Group announced a restructuring plan to create a two listed entity structure for the group in July 2010. The restructuring became effective on 10 June 2011 with the approval of the Delhi High Court and the group successfully completed the re-alignment of its business operation into 2 sections – Network18 and TV18. Network18 undertakes the digital and publishing side of the business and TV18 contains the television assets of the group.^[1]

Raghav Bahl founded and served as managing director till July 2014.^[2] In Jan 2012, there was a large investment by Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Limited in a complex deal that offered a possibility that Ambani-held Independent Media Trust (IMT) might eventually gain a controlling interest.^[3] In July 2014, the ownership was transferred to Independent Media Trust. On 29 May 2014, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) announced it would be acquiring control in Network 18 Media & Investments Ltd, including its subsidiary TV18 Broadcast Ltd. The board of RIL approved funding of up to Rs. 40 billion to Independent Media Trust (IMT), of which RIL is the sole beneficiary, for acquisition of control in Network 18 and its subsidiaries.^[4] On 8 July 2014, RIL stated that it has completed the Network18 take-over.^[5]

TV 18

Network 18 through its subsidiary 'TV18 Broadcast Limited', operates news channels. TV18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18, which houses a portfolio of popular entertainment channels across genres. TV18 also operates a factual entertainment channel History TV18 through a joint venture with A+E Networks.

Television Channels

Network 18 operates following channels.

Film Business

Viacom18 Motion Pictures - Part of the Viacom18 venture, it is involved in acquisition, production, syndication, marketing and distribution of full-length feature films within India. It also distributes Indian films in several international markets. It has an alliance with Paramount Pictures to distribute and market its films in the Indian subcontinent

Content Asset Monetisation

IndiaCast Media Distribution Private Limited - It is a joint venture between TV18 Broadcast Limited and Viacom18 Media Private Limited to create a multi-platform 'Content Asset Monetisation' entity. It distributes various channels across multiple distribution platforms such as cable, DTH, IPTV, HITS and MMDS in India and Internationally

Network 18

Digital Content Network 18's digital content and commerce segment includes a diversified portfolio of brands catering to a wide range of interests and services, including news and entertainment, markets and finance, online shopping and ticketing, and mobile phone services and applications. Its digital content and commerce segment encompasses (i) the content business that spans websites and mobile applications covering general and business news, entertainment, technology and sports, and (ii) the digital commerce business that includes online and out-of-home shopping and ticketing.^[12]

• moneycontrol.com
• firstpost.com
• News18.com
• IBNKhabar.com
• Pradesh18.com
• in.com
• Mobile applications - Network18 has mobile-enabled versions of some of its websites and popular mobile applications, such as IBNLive, M3, and Markets.^[13]

Digital Commerce

• Bookmyshow – India's largest entertainment ticketing company that provides online booking for movies, plays, sporting events and shows across India and abroad. It services more than 240 cities and 2,800 screens in India
• HomeShop18 It provides an integrated virtual shopping experience on Internet, Television and Mobile through Homeshop18.com and the 24x7 television channel
• Burrp is a food and restaurant recommendation engine. Burrp is the pioneer in the Indian food discovery space that introduced consumer technology in food and beverage industry in 2006

Publication

• Forbes India
• Overdrive - India's largest auto media for bike and car community for the past 17 years. It has presence across print, web, television and events
• Better Photography - Niche magazine for serious and amateur photo enthusiasts alike. It covers a wide variety of content - from techniques and equipment reviews to interviews
• Better Interiors - an interior design publication

Other Investments

Yatra a leading online travel portal, Colosceum, Topper - an education portal, 24X7 Learning and Ubona

Notes and references

External links

• Official website