News Broadcasting
Its Mipcom time again
CANNES: Frenzy marks Nice Airport as staff is in a tearing hurry to attend to the 1,200-odd delegates who’ve flown in from 60 countries across the globe to participate in the world’s largest content fair.
Indeed, the city of Cannes is draped in finery as it gears up to host Mipcom 2013 and Mip Junior – the biggest event(s) in the television trade.
Flagging off the extravaganza on 5 October at the Carlton is Mip Junior; a two-day content sale market-cum-conference whose focus is children’s content.
A significant precursor to Mipcom, Mip Junior sees influential international buyers, sellers and producers of kids’ programmes converge to present, screen, license, discover and acquire the latest content. A platform that aims to offer maximum exposure to all participating companies, while focussing on new opportunities, business models and challenges facing the creative world, Mip Junior is a huge draw. Statistics-wise, 520 buyers, 44,000 screenings, 1,000 programmes and 700 companies certainly make it a not-to-be-missed event.
This year, the who’s who of the animation industry will be in attendance, both their ongoing and upcoming shows in tow. So while, there will be Unicorn Black with Burka Avenger and Marvista Entertainment with Digimon and Power Rangers, they will share space with say a Kumanta Animation Studios that is bringing its all new Miles and Stones to Mip Junior.
What’s more, a special workshop will be held on the first day to offer insights to producers and distributors as to how to make the most of the mainstream online platform.
Day One of the 2013 edition will also see the return of the international competition for newest projects created for children. In the race are Being Zeth by Source Animation, India; Goris the Gorilla by Split, Brazil & Gong, Chile; Koouka by Aldebaran Distribution and Vallaround, Italy; Nelly and Nora by Geronimo, Ireland and The Little Train Choo Choo by JM Animation, Korea.
Add to all this, participants will get an opportunity to understand and unveil new trends in kids’ content in Russia. Not to mention, Argentina, the country of honour this year, will be partnering with the Argentine National Film Board to showcase original animation, live action and digital series produced by independent Argentina-based producers.
In case you thought a day of showcasing, networking, buying and selling was it, no way… Reed Midem hosts a night party to present Argentina as this year’s country of honour. So, time to get your LBD and dancing shoes out…
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.
