News Broadcasting
ABP Ananda unveils Durga Puja extravaganza: A fusion of tradition and innovation
Mumbai: As the premier Bengali news channel, ABP Ananda has brought back its three iconic properties – ABP Ananda Sharad Ananda, ABP Ananda Paara e Paara e Serar Lodai, and ABP Ananda Surakshar Puraskar, offering fresh content and collaborating with various partners to celebrate the spirit of Durga Puja.
The Sharad Ananda programming for this year has already commenced, featuring a diverse array of both new and existing content. The first segment, “Koruk Matha Theme Theme,” explores Kolkata’s renowned Durga Puja themes, showcasing the unique aspects of pandals, the evolution of art forms, and efforts to revive rural folk art. This segment adopts a storytelling format.
The second segment, “Tarokar Chokhe Taroka Pujo,” involves celebrities visiting pandals, delving into the preparation, concepts, idols, lighting, and ambience while discussing the release of their cinema and OTT projects during the Puja.
“Akash Pothe Pujo” is a distinctive concept introduced by ABP Ananda last year, where all the renowned Pujas of Kolkata were covered using drone cameras for a complete aerial bird’s eye view telecast. This includes exclusive coverage of ornamental decorations, lighting, pandals, and thematic features.
“Pujo Dekhun Ghore Bosey” continues its annual tradition of live telecasting eight of the biggest Pujas in Kolkata, showcasing both traditional and themed celebrations with a multi-camera setup. The telecast spans all five days, providing viewers with insights into the rituals performed.
The programming also features “Sharad Ananda Samman 2023,” an award ceremony honouring Puja pandals in various categories, including Best Pandal, Best Theme, Best Lighting, Best Idol, Best Concept, Best Puja Committee, and Best Traditional Puja. Fifty such categories and thirty Durga Pujas around the city will be felicitated with the Jury Samman Award. Jelar Sera Puja 2023 is the district version of Sharad Ananda Samman. Overall, more than 200 Puja Pandals across categories will be conferred with the Sharad Ananda Samman.
Other notable programming includes “Pujor Adda,” “Pujo Personal,” “Probashe Pujo,” “Durga Puja Animation Program,” “Pujor Case Book,” and “Bhanu Ukil & Jahor Bicharak.”
The Sharad Ananda programming for this year is presented by Dear Govt. Lottery, Prabhuji Pure Food, ABP Weddings dot com, and Lloyd. It is Co-powered by Madhukunj Agarbatti, Sister Nivedita University, Macho Hint, Greenply, Concreto Cement, and Wild Stone. Partner sponsors include Priyo Gopal Bishoyee, Lancet Pharmaceuticals, Shalimar Coconut Oil, Rumpa Jewellery, Mother Dairy Mishti Doi, and Coca-Cola. The digital partner is ABP Live.
ABP Ananda’s second property, “Paara e Paara e Serar Lodai 2023,” is an 11-episode non-fiction fun reality game show played among 12 Durga Puja Committees. The episodes are currently airing on ABP Ananda every day at 5:30 pm until October 20, 2023.
“Paara e Paara e Serar Lodai 2023,” is Presented by Benarasi Niketan, Zed Black Zed Black Premium Agarbatti, Nirma Beauty Soap and Mother Dairy Mishti Doi. It is Co-Powered By Secret Temptation, Khadim, Basumati Rice, Snik Bisk, Crompton Mixers and Calcutta Retro. The property is partnered By – Rumpa Jewellery, Dulux, Jovees Herbal and Rungta Steel TMT Bar. Special Partner includes – Manmohan Jaadu Molom while the Digital Partner is ABP Live.
The sixth year of ABP Ananda’s third property, “ABP Ananda Surakshar Puraskar 2023,” is marked by an award intended to support social safety, security, and measures implemented by individual Puja Committees during their Pujas. A team of experts will evaluate 100 Puja committees based on various standards, and awards will be given based on set parameters.
ABP Ananda’s Surakshar Puraskar is presented by Mother Dairy Mishti Doi, Finolex Pipes, and Manmohan Jaadu Molom. It is powered by Shalimar Coconut Oil, Rungta Steel TMT Bar, and Wild Stone. Partnered by Rumpa Jewellery and Horlicks, with ABP Live as the digital partner.
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.
