News Broadcasting
65 per cent of US net homes ready to switch to bundled services
MUMBAI: Over 60 per cent of Internet households in the US would be willing to consolidate their services under a single provider if that would save $20 per month.
The report Bundled Services: Analysis and Forecasts, has been published by Parks Associates. The report notes that the prospect of cost savings far outweighs convenience as an influencing factor. Only 43 per cent of the survey’s respondents would switch to a video, telephone, and Internet bundle without a savings incentive.
Parks Associates analyst William Cheek added, “Cost is important to subscribers, and at least some savings must be a central theme of any successful campaign for bundled services.
“The challenge for service providers will be not to simply underprice their service packages in a shortsighted attempt to stem churn and attract new customers.
“Instead, they will need to define value to their customers that includes such variables as the convenience of all services on one bill, one point of contact for service issues, and value-added features and applications that can be layered upon basic services.”
Over 4,000 US households were surveyed. The study also found that 74 per cent of households likely to upgrade to broadband Internet in the next 12 months would subscribe to a bundled service package that could save them $20 per month for data, voice, and video services.
“This is encouraging for service providers. As more households switch from narrowband to broadband, the number of households with bundled services could increase almost in tandem, provided that providers offer and adequately demonstrate the value — above and beyond cost savings — of these options,” Cheek added.
Parks Associates is a market research and consulting firm focussed on all product and service segments that are “digital” or provide connectivity within the home. The company’s expertise includes home networks, digital entertainment, consumer electronics, broadband and Internet services, and home systems.
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.
