News Broadcasting
BBC announces factual commissioning appointments
MUMBAI: The BBC is undergoing a major change in its sytems and processes. One of the aims is to pave the way for a new, fairer one-stop shop commissioning system for in-house and independent producers alike. Therefore it has appointed three new commissioners for factual programmes across its four television channels in the UK.
Emma Swain becomes the commissioning editor for specialist factual. She will be responsible for history, natural history and science; Adam Kemp will be the commissioning editor for Arts, Performance and Religion. Meanwhile, Richard Klein takes on the new role of commissioning editor for documentaries. The new team will take up their posts on 4 April 2005.
One post of commissioner of factual features remains vacant, and external applications will now be invited. Swain will commission factual features in the interim. The five new commissioning editors will commission their own part of the slate and will report to the controller of factual television Glenwyn Benson. He said, “I am very pleased to have been able to assemble such a strong, experienced and creatively bold team. Each of them will have direct responsibility for commissioning programmes from both BBC in-house production and independents, which will ensure that that everyone has direct and equal access to the commissioning process.
BBC television director Jana Bennett said: “This structure creates a simple one-stop shop and puts the best in-house and independent ideas in open competition. The factual restructure is integral to the significant overhaul of the BBC’s commissioning system I announced last December, which has included restructuring of the Drama and Entertainment commissioning teams announced in recent weeks. It also prepares the BBC to introduce greater competitive space in its commissioning through the proposed Window of Creative Competition (Wocc).
“The new and streamlined commissioning structure for Television, together with our plans for new processes including developing faster turnaround times and greater information sharing with the creative community, will deliver audiences the richest content from the best programme makers.”
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.
