News Broadcasting
Padmalaya Q1 net profit down 14.4%
MUMBAI: The board of Padmalaya Telefilms has announced its financial results for the first quarter results ended 30 June 2004. The company has posted a net revenue of Rs 22.8 billion as compared to Rs 26.6 billion in the corresponding period last year, which shows a decline of 14.4 per cent.
Net profit before tax showed a decline of 19 per cent, to Rs 6240.50 million in comparison to the previous year’s net profit which was Rs 7722.20 million.
The 14.4 per cent decrease in sales, is attributed to one regional feature film release in the first quarter of last year, whereby the company achieved higher revenue in film division according to Padmalaya Telefilms CFO Sarasuram.The company has although released one regional film in July 2004 which will contribute to the second quarter turnover. One Hindi movie is also slated for release in the month of September.
Also, in the television division, the library encashment was high in the previous year hence the turnover of the first quarter in the previous year is more.
Staff costs have gone up by eight per cent as the company has recruited new employees for the envisaged expansion projects. Also, the existing employees were given yearly due increments.
Coming to segment wise revenue and results one sees, that although no films have been released, the profit from the films division is Rs 315.8.60 million vis a vis Rs 2250.60 million in the previous corresponding period; the margin of profit up by 10 per cent.
Sarasuram explains, “The film division comprises of Film Production, Distribution and Exhibition activities. Though there have been no releases, the distribution activity went well during the last quarter. Of the total 22 movies distributed during the first quarter, 12 movies were hits and others were average. This has contributed to higher revenue and higher profit margins.”
Also in the exhibition activity, the total number of theatres increased. This was also a significant contributor to higher revenues and profits.
TV profits have decreased dramatically at Rs 763.70 million, the margin of profit showing a decline of a whopping 24 per cent. This was because the current year’s library encashment was very nominal. The previous year saw library encashment contribute 43 per cent of the total Television turnover. However, the fall in TV arena of the company is noteworthy.
Animation seems to have spruced up the company by almost an 80 per cent jump in profits. The last year saw an addition of the animation education division (from April 2004 onwards) and visual effects division for the existing animation division. The re-establishment of the brand name of ZICA , worked wonders for the lost stand ZICA had in the market. The expansion of the business to Mumbai, Kolkatta and Hyderabad also played a vital factor. Sarasuram adds, “The company is eyeing to enter into other major cities also and apart from ZICA, the company has started media training center with the association of Apple Computers Inc. The Apple authorised training center is first time in India.”
The company has also increased the 3D animation department capacity to 200 per cent and thus the contribution from 3D animation is also more.
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.
