News Broadcasting
Dan Taylor is MGM president
MUMBAI: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and its buyers- a consortium of investors including Sony and Comcast have appointed Daniel Taylor as MGM president.
It was in September 2004 that MGM Studios was acquired by Sony for $5 billion. Time Warner was also in the race for MGM.
MGM is currently in the process of being acquired by the consortium for $12 in cash per share, plus the assumption of MGM’s approximately $2.0 billion in debt. The transaction remains subject to several closing conditions, including obtaining European Union regulatory approval and the completion of financing.
As president Taylor will be responsible for overseeing all operations of the independent privately-held MGM, including development and production of a smaller slate of theatrical and television product through co-financing and distribution with Sony. Additionally, he will play a major role in leveraging what Sony claims is the world’s largest modern film library while working with Comcast to expand MGM’s reach by identifying new platform, content and channel opportunities.
Taylor said, “I am honoured to be selected to lead MGM as we enter this exciting new era, and I am confident that our legacy will endure. Working with our two libraries, Sony and MGM will now be able to provide access to the world’s largest collection of film and television content, while we continue to aggressively pursue new technology and distribution options.”
Taylor spent the last seven and a half years at MGM, most recently as senior executive VP and CFO, where he oversaw all financial functions of the company, as well as its worldwide post-theatrical distribution and information services, while playing a key role as a member of the management team responsible for MGM’s overall corporate strategy and business development.
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.
