News Broadcasting
Nik gowing to step down as daily BBC World News presenter
MUMBAI: BBC World News presenter Nik Gowing is stepping back from his daily presenting role on the channel. One of the main presenters on BBC World News since 1996, his roles over the past 18 years have included hosting NewsDesk, World News Today, The Hub and Dateline London. He has presented live coverage on location on many occasions and led the team responsible for developing the highly successful World Debates.
Nik Gowing said, “Like a few other colleagues back in the mid 90s, I took the professional risk of joining a fledgling channel with great global potential and ambitions. It was, though, one that the BBC took a long time to work out how to embrace both commercially and editorially. Now BBC World News is where I always visualised it would get to eventually. It is flying high as one of the ever more successful BBC global news platforms. I have chosen to step back with a great sense of having contributed to achieving so much. I have always been supported by many tremendous and committed colleagues over the 18 years. To them go my enormous thanks and appreciation. A presenter is, after all, the public face of a multi-talented, hard-working team both editorially and technically.”
James Stephenson, Head of News for BBC World News, said, “Nik always recognised the potential for BBC World News to become a successful global channel and has played a key role in building its success. Since our move to New Broadcasting House he has brought his irrepressible energy to raising the quality of our morning output. We hugely appreciate his distinguished contribution to the channel both on and off air.”
Peter Horrocks, Director, World Service Group, said, “Nik has been a mainstay of BBC World News for most of its existence. His gravitas, his energy and his unrivalled contacts book have been essential parts of the channel’s booming success. Nik will move on from daily presenting with the cheers of the audience and journalists of World News ringing in his ears as a mark of admiration for a man who has had a huge impact on the channel.”
Nik will continue to work with BBC World News on an ad hoc basis after he steps down from daily presenting next month.
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
