News Broadcasting
Agrani reacts favourably to budget
NEW DELHI: Agrani Satellite Services has reacted in a positive manner to the tax holiday extended to domestic satellite companies. ASS is a subsidiary of the Subhash Chandra-promoted ASC Enterprises Ltd, which is the only player in this field.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, a company official said, “As per the policy, a company has to choose any 10 years in continuation within the first 15 years of operation. This policy provides 100 per cent tax holiday for the first five years and a 30 per cent relief for the next five years. It is a welcome relief for Indian satcom industry from government.”
What is the impact on the satellite industry? According to figures collated by indiantelevision.com, it seems that in a scenario where the government has so far been the only provider of satellite capacity, there is a large demand-supply gap, which needs to be filled by capacity on other systems. Experts in satellite broadcasting feel that private players will have to be involved in greater numbers in the provision of infrastructure and services under a facilitative regulatory regime.
India will face a major shortage of transponder capacity with the demand expected to increase to about 315 by 2004 but the supply not going above 235, notwithstanding the recent permission to a private sector satellite service company to induct foreign equity. Furthermore, India is expected to take a leap forward in the convergence arena with rapid expansion in the fixed-line and mobile telephone networks, Internet user base, long distance infrastructure, cable and Direct-to-Home television households, training and educational networks of businesses and institutions.
The country utilised 154 transponders in 1999, of which 28 transponders were for international communications operations of VSNL. Of the 128 transponders for domestic applications an estimated 69 transponders were used by Government, private Indian and foreign broadcasters to provide around 120 TV channels for Indian audiences. Eight transponders were used for business and other network services. Internet backbone applications accounted for 12 transponders, domestic telecom applications for 47 transponders and international voice and data communications for 18. Of the 154 transponders, 75 were provided by the INSAT system (including 10 transponders leased on a foreign satellite system) and the rest (79) were leased on foreign satellite systems.
With only INSAT 3C and 3A being launched over the next two years, the capacity of INSAT satellites in is estimated to be around 75 transponders. The estimated increase to 316 includes 10 ten per cent for reserve and backup capacity. This increase in demand is largely due to projected growth in telephone network (52 million lines); Internet subscribers (18 million), Cable TV channels (85) and DTH TV channels (85), VSAT terminals (50,000), and education/training networks (28 channels).headlines/y2k3/feb/feb200.htm
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.
