News Broadcasting
Meredith Vieira to replace Katie Couric on NBC’s ‘Today’ show
MUMBAI: American television personality Meredith Vieira has been named co-anchor of US broadcaster NBC News’ Today,
This announcement follows the departure of Katie Couric to CBS News.
NBC Universal Television Group CEO Jeff Zucker says, “”This is an announcement that I couldn’t be happier to be making. Meredith’s vast experience as an award-winning journalist, as well as talk show host, make her the ideal candidate for this job. She joins a distinguished legacy of Today show co-anchors: from Barbara Walters to Jane Pauley to Katie Couric. We are lucky to have her as the newest member of Today and I am thrilled to welcome her to the NBC family.”
Vieira said, “Before Jeff changes his mind, I am honored to accept this amazing opportunity. Not only is the Today show a great program within a superb news organisation, it’s also where America turns to begin the day. I look forward to joining Matt, Ann and Al in giving America the best each morning.”
Matt Lauer who co-hosts the Today show says, “Meredith is a real pro, and I think it speaks volumes that NBC has brought her here to Today. I have been her fan for years and I can’t wait to be her partner. She has the perfect background and personality to make a real mark on this show and in morning news in general. I’m thrilled to welcome her aboard.”
NBC News president Steve Capus says, “It is a tribute to everyone at ‘Today,’ and all of NBC News, that someone of Meredith’s caliber has joined our team. She is an eight-time Emmy award winner, a 60 Minutes veteran and real pro — her skills will be invaluable at ‘Today’ and throughout the division. We can’t wait to get started.”
Vieira has been moderator of ABC’s The View since the show’s inception in 1997. She has been the host of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire since 2002. She started at the network in 1993 when she joined their news division as chief correspondent of Turning Point which debuted in March 1994 and where she earned her seventh Emmy Award.
Vieira spent more than a decade at CBS News, where she garnered five Emmy Awards for her work as a correspondent on the top-ranking news magazines 60 Minutes and West 57th.
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.
