News Broadcasting
Sony to have Animax block
MUMBAI: Animax, has entered into a strategic tie-up with Sony for the creation of an Animax branded block on the channel.
An official release, from the channel states, Sony Entertainment Television executive vice president, Sunil Lulla said, The Animax Kool Kidz band fits in with our philosophy of providing contemporary, unique and innovative entertainment to our viewers.
He adds,”It is our endeavor at expanding our viewer base, reaching to newer target audiences in the age group of 7 – 14 years. And with children always looking for newer, trendier television content, anime fulfils this need.”
With shows like Indian Idol and Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahin, Sony Entertainment Television has redefined programming norms on Indian television. And the introduction of the Animax Kool Kidz band on Sony Entertainment Television will only strengthen the channels appeal amongst younger viewers, as stated in media release.
Animax-Asia SPE Networks Betty Tsui adds, This tie-up also forms part of our efforts to introduce this relatively new entertainment genre to a larger audience. Anime already enjoys massive popularity in many parts of Asia, the US and Europe, and we have every reason to believe that this is will be the next big thing for the kids and youth in India.
Some of the anime tittles that will air in the Animax Kool Kidz block include Princess Sarah, Little Women, Princess Tutu, Princess Comet, Daigunder, Cyborg 009, UFO Baby, Baby Ba-Chan, Cyborg Kurochan and Fancy Lala.
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.
