News Broadcasting
BBC secures exclusive MotoGP coverage till 2013
MUMBAI: BBC has announced that BBC Sport and Dorna Sports, commercial and TV rights holders of the MotoGP World Championship, have signed an extension to the existing agreement for coverage of MotoGP from 2009 to 2013. BBC Sport will now have exclusive UK rights to broadcast the world’s premier motorcycle championship for the next five years.
The deal includes the rights to show all the races – 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP, plus qualifying sessions. All MotoGP races will be shown live on BBC Television with the 125 and 250 races and qualifying sessions shown live on interactive TV via the red button and online.
As well as the expanded coverage on interactive TV (which 86% of individuals in the UK have), the MotoGP races will also be available as a catch-up service on BBC iPlayer.
The new agreement represents increased commitment and coverage of MotoGP for BBC, and makes the broadcaster the UK leader in motor sport with the world’s premier bike and car events in MotoGP and Formula One.
BBC Sport’s director of sport rights Dominic Coles said, “We are delighted to have secured, for the first time, fully exclusive rights to the world’s premier and most watched motorbike competition. Alongside our recent acquisition of Formula One, BBC Sport has become the home of motorsport in the UK; a one-stop shop for fans of the very best two-wheel and four-wheel, adrenalin-fuelled sport action across TV, radio and online services.
“With James Toseland making a very promising start to his MotoGP career, Bradley Smith shining in the 125s, and Scott Redding making history in that series recently at Donington Park, the future for British riders in MotoGP looks good, and the BBC will be there all the way to tell their stories.”
Dorna MD Manel Arroyo said, “Dorna is delighted to extend its collaboration with the BBC, and thanks to their prestige and their dedication to MotoGP, we are sure that the championship will continue to grow in the UK. We are also happy that fans will not miss out and can continue to enjoy all races and qualifying sessions in the future.”
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.
