News Broadcasting
Ad industry in spotlight on BBC World
MUMBAI: This month on BBC World, weekend programming is dedicated to the power of brands and the industry which supports them. Whether it is the process of creating and releasing an advert or understanding brands and observing the influence they have on our lives, this dedicated branded season of programmes offers something for all tastes.
Logo launches the season with a six-part magazine style programme looking at the scenes behind the branded world. From the first episode which looks at the importance of branded shopping bags through to episodes dealing with issues such as schools and advertising as well as music, Superclubs, tobacco and clothing brand development, viewers are taken on a journey around the world to explore the influence that brands have on culture and society, a BBC release says.
From 14 September The Ad Factor looks at the process behind the making of advertising messages. The three-part series traces the planning and design stages of the advertising process through to the roll-out and consumption of the final product. Using examples from the campaigns of Psion, Guinness Ireland and Doctor Martens, the series highlights the months of planning and thousands of hours of work that go into making a single advertisement.
The Comeback Cars is a three-part programme focusing on resurgent brand names in the car industry. From Jaguar to BMW and Rolls Royce, the series follows the re-launches and marketing tactics of the main players in the motor industry.
A one-off programme at the end of September concludes the season with an entertaining look at how children succeed in convincing adults they need something. What kids want ….And how they get it observes some accomplished negotiators in action and, with the help of behavioural psychologists, exposes their strategies. Will the six boys in the Campbell family exploit their mother’s soft touch to get the designer labels they desperately want, even though money is tight? Will Jacobi and Bianca’a tears get them the gold shoes of their dreams? Behavioural psychologists give advice on how to combat the ‘gimme gimme’ generation and highlight the difficulties parents face today.
“We believe that our audiences the world over will be intrigued by the material in this dedicated season, whether they work in the industry or not, advertising is something that affects everyone’s day to day life. The season also offers opportunities to advertisers who wish to support the programmes with one off campaigns of their own,” Jonathan Howlett, director airtime sales, BBC World, was quoted as saying in the release.
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.
