News Broadcasting
Arnab’s Republic TV to air 1971 ‘Air Battle of Srinagar’ on Air Force Day
MUMBAI: This Air Force Day on 8 October, Republic TV will telecast the documentary “The Air Battle of Srinagar”, about the heroic role played by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the 1971 War.
The channel’s ethos lie in putting the nation above all and celebrating the unity in diversity, which has flourished despite a myriad of issues. The Air Battle of Srinagar depicts the fighting spirit of the Indian Airforce which played a pivotal role in protecting India.
The documentary gives a brief backdrop to how the 1971 war began and how through the pivotal actions of Air Force got Pakistan to surrender in 14 days, in one of the biggest mass surrenders since the Second World War. The focus of the documentary is on the air action that took place in Srinagar. That air field had no radar and no fighter aircraft stationed due to the UN agreement. Each day of this war this air base was subjected to repeated and savage attacks on the scarce protection, but it valiantly fought back and managed to emerge victorious.
The documentary has used 2D and 3D animation and VFX effects brilliantly to portray the scenes of air to air combat and attacks upon air fields. The visual narrative and storytelling is gripping and sets a new benchmark in the genre of combat films/ documentaries in India. The script and commentary is by Maj Gen (Dr) G D Bakshi, a well-known TV commentator. Many celebrated Army and Air force veterans like AVM Jindal (retd), Col Anil Bhat VSM, Col Bhatia and Wg Cdr Prafulla Bakshi have enacted very convincing roles. Wg Cdr Vinod Kumar Neb VrC and Bar, the fighter hero of the 1965 and 1971 wars has given expert comments on the air combat.
‘The Air Battle of Srinagar” will air on Republic TV on 7 and 8 October at 3pm.
News Broadcasting
Network18 posts Rs 1,955 crore revenue, narrows FY26 losses
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.
