News Broadcasting
First 24×7 gaming channel to launch next year in US
MUMBAI: The crowded American television landscape will welcome a new entrant next year. EdgeTV, which is positioning itself as the first 24-hour gaming network, will launch next year.
The channel’s tagline will be “watch the best, play with the best and live like the best.” EdgeTV will launch in the first quarter of next year. It will be a one-stop TV destination for all game players — from casino games to fantasy sports and from bridge to crosswords. The Beverly Hills-headquartered EdgeTV is in final discussions with a major Vegas casino group to establish permanent production and broadcast operations within a major casino. The programme mix will be 70 per cent original while the rest is acquired.
The broadcaster claims to have already entered into broadcast agreements with the US Chess Federation and American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, led by National Public Radio puzzle master. EdgeTV will also provide Video On Demand (VOD) and interactive services. This will augment its programming by teaching audiences the basics and nuances of a variety of games.
With $10 million in seed capital, the venture is being led by legal and telecommunications pioneer Reagan Silber and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and executives Keith Richman and Charles Katz.
Talent and literary agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) will assist the broadcaster in new business activities and content acquisition strategies.
Its programming falls within three areas which reflect the above mentioned tagline:Watch the Best: EdgeTV will transport viewers to live tournaments around the world. The high-stakes games promise plenty of drama.
Play with the Best — Edge TV will let viewers be part of the programmes. Viewers can play at home while watching experts give tutorials on-the-air. They will also be able to compete online against the best players in every game for cash and prizes. With the evolution of interactive television future EdgeTV viewers will have the ability to actively play with their favourite celebrity game champion or dice roller.
Live Like the Best — Offering inside access into the world of games, and the fantasy lifestyle that high rollers live, EdgeTV will also help viewers live like the winners. It will profile casinos and hotels as well as exotic gaming locations.
Silber was quoted in a company release saying, “We acknowledge that there is competition in the marketplace, but believe that this concept is clearly differentiated by its programming spectrum, strong capitalisation and emerging partnerships with the creative and gaming communities. EdgeTV will be a comprehensive source for the games that people play. We anticipate that it will not only be strongly embraced, but demanded by viewers.”
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.
