News Broadcasting
BBC publishes code of conduct for competitions and voting
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC has published for the first time a code of conduct for competitions and voting on the Corporation’s television, radio and online services. The code is the BBC’s undertaking to its audiences on the running of competitions and voting.
The code, which applies to competition and voting activity on every BBC programme, emphasises the importance of trust in the relationship with audiences. An honest and open relationship is required, in which the public is treated with respect and fairness. Competitions and voting will be handled with rigorous care and integrity.
The code, which will be widely publicised on the BBC’s services, also reminds audiences that BBC competitions and votes will not be run on the BBC to make a profit. The only time BBC competitions or votes will be aimed at raising funds will be for a BBC charitable initiative.
In particular, through the code, the BBC undertakes to ensure that:
– competitions and votes are conducted in a way that is honest, open, fair and legal
– winners of competitions and votes are genuine and never invented, pre-chosen or planted by the production team. Every entry should have a fair chance of winning
– it will never ask anyone to pose as a competition contestant or winner
– prizes are described accurately. The BBC will not mislead entrants about the nature of a prize and prize winners will receive their prizes in reasonable time
– there are clear rules for any competition or vote, which are readily available to the public.
The Code states that whatever pressures there may be to “keep the show on the air”, the BBC must never compromise its editorial integrity.
If things go wrong with running a competition or vote, the BBC will not cover it up or falsify the outcome.
Premium rate telephone services will be used when the size of the likely response to votes or competitions requires large numbers of calls to be handled, or where raising money for a BBC charitable initiative.
The code of conduct is part of the response by BBC management to the requirement from the BBC Trust for a comprehensive plan to address important issues which arose from serious editorial breaches on the BBC earlier this year.
The code was called for by the BBC Trust, and further detailed advice for programme makers on competitions, voting and running awards and a formal approvals process for such activities is to be submitted to the Trust for its consideration before competitions can resume on the BBC.
It is anticipated that some competitions may return on air before Christmas.
A mandatory editorial training programme for 17,000 staff, Safeguarding Trust, is also now underway.
BBC DG Mark Thompson said, “Trust is the BBC’s most important value and we must never do anything that may undermine that trust. That belief is shared by the BBC’s programme makers. The new Code will enable audiences to have a clear understanding of what they should expect in the conduct of competitions and votes on the BBC. Audiences enjoy interacting with BBC programmes and output. It’s important that they can do so with confidence at all times.”
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.
