News Broadcasting
Barrett to chair US media security and reliability council
MUMBAI: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Michael Powell has announced that David J. Barrett will assume the chairmanship of the newly re-chartered Media Security and Reliability Counci (MSRC). Barrett is the president and CEO of Hearst-Argyle Television.
Powell was quoted in an official release saying, “The MSRC will continue to bring together industry leaders to develop ways to ensure the continued operation and security of media facilities. I am pleased that David will be bringing his expertise and leadership to this important council, and am confident that MSRC II will continue in the fine tradition set by this Council.”
The MSRC is a Federal advisory committee that reports to Powell. Powell formed the organisation following 9/11 in order to study, develop and report on best practices designed to assure the optimal reliability, robustness and security of the broadcast and multichannel video programming distribution industries.
Barrett said, “MSRC has completed just a portion of the important work that needs to be done to better prepare the electronic media for events that will drive us to an even higher level of community service, responsibility and accessibility. As we move forward into the next generation of this important committee, we hope to satisfy the expectation of the FCC, Homeland Security and other agencies and public officials who count on broadcasters to help make America safer and more secure.”
MSRC is being chartered for a two-year term beginning 24 March. MSRC II will further refine the MSRC best practices recommendations. The council will also coordinate with the FCC staff on an outreach process that will encourage adoption of MSRC’s best practices and foster coordination between media and government at the local level.
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.
