News Broadcasting
NGC using ‘Innovation’ to localise further
MUMBAI: One of the best ways a foreign channel can increase share in an increasingly competitive market is by creating a direct local connect. The National Geographic Channel (NGC) is doing just that.
A couple of months ago it had aired the special Leopards of Bollywood which had been done by Miditech. It will now take the localisation strategy ahead in a big way when it telecasts Innovation.
This is not just an on-air activity. NGC is planning on ground events as well. The show kicks off on the channel on 3 October.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com NGC senior VP content and communication Dilshad Master had the following remarks to make about the new initiative. “Innovation is a new science series that will tell the dramatic stories of cutting-edge technologies that are changing our world.
“Technology that we thought only belonged in the realms of science fictions are happening here and now. Each episode will talk about a technology that is either controversial, secretive or competitive in nature.”
On the marketing front to create a strong local flavour Master added that the broadcaster has planned to associate with a premier technology institute in the country. The aim is to extend the entire event to a ground level. “The aim is to thereby facilitate innovations from our country to get mass media exposure.
“Towards this end, a nationwide campaign will be mounted to identify scientific and technological innovations. These will originate not just from the academic and R&D community, industry professionals in India but also from common folks who simply have a great idea.”
NGC will then select the top 10 innovations for wide media exposure and the best one for entrepreneurial opportunities. Master added that this Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB) project is meant precisely for the reason of commissioning Indian producers for original content.
“Last year, two proposals from India were accepted and given the go ahead. This year we expect even more India- based proposals to come through. We will continue to source stories from India – as long as they fit in with the long running series that are on the channel, are unique in their content and hold true to our brand promise.”
Coming back to the on air show one episode is called Building To Extremes. Towering above us, skyscrapers symbolise man’s victory over his habitat. However 9/11 showed their vulnerability. The show examines they be made safe.
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.
