News Broadcasting
UK pubcasters spending less on children’s, religious programming
MUMBAI: From 1998 – 2003, the five main terrestrial channels in the UK reduced their spend on arts, children’s, religion and educational programmes.
This data is contained in a report published by UK’s telecommunications regulatory body Ofcom. The report has put out the findings of the first phase of its review of the country’s public service television broadcasting.
The review has been structured in three phases and will be completed in December this year.
The report has examined the effectiveness of the main terrestrial channels in the UK – BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1 Channel 4 and Five.
The study also found that expenditure on programming across the five main terrestrial television channels excluding films and sport increased by eight per cent. The spending on news and drama rose by 13 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.
There has also been a narrowing of range within genres like drama and factual programming. Specialist programmes on topics such as arts and current affairs were pushed to the edges of peak viewing hours. While innovative approaches to programme formats were developed, the number of new titles launched each year fell during this five year period.
Television viewers in the UK feel that there is a lack of innovation and originality on the above mentioned channels, says the study. They are in favour of competition between the main terrestrial channels for improving the content quality.
In this scenario, it is not surprising to find that these channels have seen their channel share erode over the years. The audiences for more challenging types of programming fell sharply in the multichannel homes.
The channels’ audience share declined from 87 per cent to 76 per cent of total viewing. In multichannel homes their audience share started lower and declined from 63 per cent to 57 per cent during the past five years
Ofcom senior partner Ed Richards who is leading the review was quoted in a company release saying, “Viewers have made it clear that public service broadcasting matters. But there are also real issues to overcome, both today and in the future.
” Public service broadcasting will only be sustainable if it produces challenging and popular programming. This has to reach a significant audience in the digital age.”
Ofcom has made a few suggestions. They include:
1. Achieving digital switchover should be of high priority. This should be given preference over more marginal public service broadcasting obligations.
2. As far as the BBC is concerned, Ofcom said that it needed to reaffirm its position as the standard setter for delivering the highest quality public service broadcasting.
3. The central components of public service broadcasting on ITV1 and Five should be news, regional news and original production.
4. The channels should also examine the different means of sharing existing funding. This will include allowing broadcasters to bid for public service broadcasting funding.
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.
