News Broadcasting
After IGT’s success, FremantleMedia brings ‘CEO’s Got Talent’
MUMBAI: The Indian audience loves watching the talented sector of the country showcase it on the screen. That’s the reason why a reality show like India’s Got Talent has not just become popular but has even sustained for five seasons. Taking the concept forward, FremantleMedia India, the production house behind the show, has announced the launch of a unique initiative called CEO’s Got Talent.
CEOs, who form the backbone of Corporate India, will compete against each other to put their unique talents under the spotlight, that usually don’t come into play in their boardroom lives. A first-of-its-kind property created by FremantleMedia within the ‘Got Talent’ franchise, is an effort to recognise the creativity and talent amongst CEOs, which often remains hidden due to their intense day to day business-led lives.
The programme will feature 12 CEOs and will take place at the Grand Hyatt on Friday, 7 March, 2014. It will be broadcast on CNBC TV18 .
Produced by FremantleMedia and presented by Blackberry Messenger, the initiative will invite CEOs from India Inc. who will compete on this stage. The special event will have Raj Nayak, CEO – COLORS, as jury member among notable personalities. The most talented CEO will be chosen from among the 12 participating CEOs, who will showcase their lighter and talented side thereby making it a fun evening.
FremantleMedia India MD Anupama Mandloi said: “We are excited to launch this unique format, a first-of-its-kind adaptation of our global ‘Got Talent’ Franchise. With CNBC TV18 as our broadcast partner, our endeavour is to reach out to the core business leaders in the country and show-case their talent outside of the corporate board rooms!”
She further added, “The response has been fantastic and we look forward to some very enthusiastic participation.”
Proceeds from CEOs Got Talent will go to Genesis Foundation that provides financial support for life-saving and life-changing medical intervention for critically ill under-privileged children in areas of cancer, cardiac disorder, organ failure, thalassemia and extreme deformities.
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.
