News Broadcasting
ValuAccess launches Gift Cards for Country Inn & Suites, Sahibabad
NEW DELHI: ValuAccess, a leading provider of gift cards and loyalty programs in Asia has launched gift card programme for Country Inn & Suites, Sahibabad. ValuAccess services for Country Inn would comprise end-to-end solutions to enable the operation of gift card program covering from transaction processing and POS support to card logistics, reporting, customer service and corporate sales.
“We are the first All vegetarian Five Star Hotel and have always endeavoured to deliver additional value to our existing customers and prospects. The launch of our gift cards programme is to further establish the fact and ensure a complete experience to our loyal customers. Highly adept in this arena, we are elated with our association with ValuAccess. We are expecting positive feedback for the specially designed gift card solution from our customers and wish to continue with our association for a longer period,” said Mr. N.C. Sharma, Director – HR, Country Inn & Suites – Sahibabad.
“Country Inn & Suites, Sahibabad by Carlson Group is a leading hospitality brand known for providing comfortable experience to its consumers. ValuAccess is delighted to associate with Country Inn & Suites and present customers with this innovative gifting option. We are ascertained that this solution will further assist them to deliver more relevant, personalised and satisfying services and keep the customer relationship intact,” said Alistair Gordon, Founder & Group Managing Director – ValuAccess.
“ValuAccess will provide value to both Country Inn & Suites and its users. The strong Pan India corporate sales team of ValuAccess will assist in making the cards available to the companies for rewards, recognition and incentives program for their employees,” he added.
ValuAccess portfolio of activities includes providing Gift Card; Loyalty; Campaign; Discount and Entitlement programs for merchants across all categories of retail, restaurants, hotels, entertainment, spas, bars and clubs, malls, etc. The company operates live programs in India, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Middle East and Hong Kong. ValuAccess provides gift cards to marquee brands including Benetton, Pizza Hut, Tanishq, Baskin Robbins, Cocoberry and Bercos among others.
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.
