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UCWeb to select We-Media contributors with monthly payout
MUMBAI: UCWeb, a part of Alibaba Mobile Business Group, has outlined detailed guidelines for writers and content creators to join the ‘Super 1000’ Program launched in March 2017.
The integrated evaluation will be done under four key indicators including page views, content customization, content category and publishing frequency. The UC News Content team will review quality and the overall influence of the candidate while keeping in mind content originality and legitimacy before giving the final confirmation. ‘Super 1000’ is a strategic initiative for user-generated content in India and part of We-Media Reward Plan 2.0. Under this programme, UCWeb plans to recruit 1000 We-Media writers in India and Indonesia who will be able to earn at least Rs 50,000 per month, generating varied content across diverse categories.
The programme has received more than 1,300 applications since its launch in March 2017. One of the first writers to qualify for the programme is CricketTrolls, a blog offering latest cricket news, offbeat news, memes and more with an aim to make cricket more fun. The blog enjoys over 3.62 million page views and is earning more than 900 USD per month. Besides an upgrade in Ad revenue sharing model, the We-Media Reward Plan 2.0 programme will open the door of opportunity to the most talented writers in the country. The programme saw an increase of 200% and 350% (MoM) in its page views of English and Hindi We-Media content respectively in the past quarter. Other than cricket, contributors can also opt to write on Entertainment, Politics, Tech, Health, and Lifestyle categories.
“Users are embracing diverse digital content and their appetite for such content is being met by UC News. According to our data, there are at least 400,000 self-publishers in India, creating a huge scope to grow the market, especially in niche categories. UC News and We-Media programme aim to meet the increasing demand of varied content by users and build a well-established ecosystem. With our strengths in Big Data AI, the UC We- Media Program is opening a gateway to more opportunities in India’s content industry,” said UC News We-Media head Bruce Zuo.
CricketTrolls founder Anirudh Singh says, “Getting on board the UC News platform was one of the best decisions. With UC News, you just have to write good content for your readers and not worry about anything else. In addition to that, you can monetize your content. But the most exciting part for us was the analytics tool provided by the platform. It was so easy to analyze how many page views are we receiving, the kind of articles our readers are liking, and the follower base we are building. We would highly recommend all aspiring bloggers to join the UC News We-Media Platform.”
Anyone with the required qualification can apply or be recommended as a ‘Super 1000 We-Media’ candidate. Accounts with illegal or inappropriate content or accounts lacking originality will be filtered out of this selection. While the application process is easy, UCWeb’s editorial team is on strict watch against illegal content, including fake news, pirates, duplications, and any inappropriate adult content that can erode the reading experience. An active writer who publishes frequently has a higher chance of being selected.
Through this programme, UCWeb aims to overhaul the digital content landscape in India. The programme encourages customised, long-tail content creators who will contribute to India’s growing content ecosystem. Content generators with a distinguished identity along with profound insights, perspective and style will be given priority.
The Qualification Process for Super 1000 We-Media Program is as follows:
● Update account daily is a minimum criteria
● Create at least 20 articles per week
● Focus on original (valuable and meaningful) and unique content rather than copied content
● Exclusively release content on UC News
● Persist in the same vertical field (content category) continuously, with focus & perfection
● Aim to understand preferences of your fans/readers and continue to create content to meet their needs and choices
● Adhere to a healthy operation to ensure the legitimacy of the content shared. Practices such as unethical publication of illegal, unhealthy, fraud, infringement, improper marketing and other content will terminate your account
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Sapphire Foods FY26 revenue rises to Rs 3,125 crore, posts loss
Q4 revenue at Rs 792 crore, FY26 loss at Rs 32 crore amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: If growth is on the menu, profitability seems to have taken a brief detour. Sapphire Foods India reported a steady rise in topline for FY26, even as rising costs weighed on profitability. Revenue from operations grew to Rs 3,125 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, up from Rs 2,882 crore in FY25. However, the company swung to a loss, reporting a net loss of Rs 32 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 17 crore in the previous year. Total income for the year stood at Rs 3,153 crore, while total expenses climbed to Rs 3,167 crore, reflecting pressure across key cost heads.
In the March quarter, revenue came in at Rs 792 crore, compared to Rs 711 crore in the same period last year. The company reported a quarterly net loss of Rs 13 crore, against a profit of Rs 2 crore a year earlier.
Cost pressures remained visible across operations. Material costs rose to Rs 995 crore for FY26, while employee expenses increased to Rs 428 crore. Other expenses, the largest component, stood at Rs 1,229 crore, underscoring the impact of store operations and expansion-related spends.
Depreciation and amortisation expenses also climbed to Rs 392 crore for the year, reflecting continued investments in store infrastructure and growth.
At the operating level, the company reported a loss before tax of Rs 37 crore for FY26, compared to a profit of Rs 23 crore in FY25. Exceptional items added Rs 24 crore to the cost burden during the year.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 3,256 crore as of March 31, 2026, up from Rs 3,041 crore a year earlier, indicating ongoing expansion. Net worth stood at Rs 1,389 crore.
Despite profitability pressures, operating cash flow remained resilient at Rs 507 crore, highlighting underlying business strength and demand stability.
The numbers paint a familiar picture in the quick-service restaurant space, growth continues to be served hot, but margins are still finding their footing.
