News Broadcasting
B4U appoints Samir Mazgaonkar head of sales
MUMBAI: B4U has appointed Samir Mazgaonkar as the new head of sales at B4U India. Taking on the role with immediate effect, Mazgaonkar will be responsible for leading and implementing the sales strategies and operations for B4U India sales portfolio.
Prior to his current assignment at B4U, Mazgaokar has been working with ESPN Star, says a company release. His portfolio also includes a stint with Turner International, where he worked on channels like Cartoon Network and HBO.
Besides the change in the positions at sales operation, the channel has been in the process of introducing various new programming ideas on-air and a host of off-air activities.
According to Mazgaonkar, “I look forward to this assignment as an opportunity to bring to B4U a whole new approach in terms of sales strategy and execution, which would be in tune with the market expectations from the brand. I have had the good fortune to work with some of the best media brands and teams in the business, and I intend to bring all those learnings to this assignment to create a difference.”
Says B4U vice president Ravi Nair, “Mazgaonkar brings a wealth of industry experience to B4U, which will prove invaluable. He is an experienced individual who understands the business and the people, and I am pleased to welcome Mazgaonkar as the head of the all-India sales team at B4U.”
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.
