News Broadcasting
Tcom announces IPTV strategy for China
MUMBAI: Telecom Communications (Tcom) has announced that its subsidiary, 3G Dynasty (3G) will provide China Netcom customers with exclusive, entertainment programming,
created and distributed by Live Online.
As part of the partnership, Live Online will become the music and live entertainment programming partner of 3G, and 3G will serve as Live Online’s exclusive first-window television channel partner.
The entertainment channel will become an integral part of Tcom’s internet-Protocol-Television (IPTV) China strategy as 3G’s internet content provides businesses, including movie productions and formats by combining users of the internet, mobile phones and TVs with theaters through pay-per-view, video-on-demand, and subscription network service packages in China.
The company adds that as Sony, NTT and BB Cable have demonstrated in the US and Japan the market for IPTV services, is forecasted to be worth billions. Tcom is positioning itself to take full advantage of this large and rapidly growing market in China. Tcom’s IPTV strategy is to develop a unique content that meets the user’s demand.
Live Online VP Frank Jiang says, “3G’s model and value proposition reflects Live Online’s commitment to providing consumers with the content they want, how they want it, and where they want it. With this partnership, the music industry now has another valuable marketing touch point to reach and connect artists with fans, while in turn, providing another key access point for consumers to get high quality content”.
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.
