News Broadcasting
ABC News, RealNetworks expand relationship
CHICAGO: ABC News and RealNetworks, which claims to be a global leader in network-delivered digital media, have announced that they have expanded their agreement.
With this announcement, RealNetworks is the only premium content subscription service to offer ABC News Live. This is ABC News’ 24-hour live news service, which launched in March. In addition to providing ABC News content to RealOne SuperPass subscribers and supporting premium video news content for ABC News On Demand, ABC News will also collaborate with RealNetworks on new mobile content services.
The new agreement also provides for inclusion of ABC News content in new RealOne subscription services in international markets.
ABC News’ president David Westin said,”With news breaking around the world and throughout the day, we realise the importance of reaching our audience 24 hours a day at home and at the workplace. ABC News has set a new direction for news networks, whereby 24-7 quality news coverage is no longer limited to the television.
“In cooperation with Real’s technology and the RealOne service, ABC News is making notable advances in the news and media marketplace through their commitment to broadband delivery of ABC News Live, their dedication to production and editorial quality, and their interest to deliver news globally as well as via wireless devices.”
Part of the RealNetworks’ subscription services since August 2000, ABC News continues to expand its content and programming on the Internet. The launch of RealOne SuperPass in 2001 featured World News Tonight with Peter Jennings and Nightline.. earlier in the year ABC News added ABC News Live and the “virtual control room,” a quad screen format, which provides Internet viewers with four live simultaneous video feeds.
Most recently, ABC News Live added hourly news briefs with anchor/correspondent Alina Cho. Cho also anchors breaking news and live events as news develops throughout the day. In addition to live feeds from around the world, ABC News Live programming includes reporting exclusively for ABC News Live and repackaged, high profile ABC News interviews, including Barbara Walters’ exclusive interview with senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
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.
