News Broadcasting
Al Jazeera strengthens coverage of Nepal earthquake
MUMBAI: Al Jazeera, which was one of the first news outlets to report live on the earthquake that devastated Nepal on 25 April, has further strengthened its coverage in the mountain country.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake has been described as one of the worst to hit Nepal in decades, with the most recent death toll of over 4000 expected to rise significantly.
Al Jazeera English’s Nepal correspondent Subina Shrestha was live from Kathmandu minutes after the earthquake struck, feeding through immediate audio and visual reports as the situation unfolded. Initial reports were followed by updates from senior correspondent Andrew Simmons, who arrived in Nepal on 26 April.
Al Jazeera correspondents Faiz Jamil and So Rahman have since joined the network’s newsgathering team in Kathmandu. In the coming days, coverage will focus on the relief effort, the impact on remote areas of the country and reaction from the Nepalese community living abroad. A special half hour live broadcast scheduled for 0600GMT on 2 May will mark one week since the earthquake hit.
Al Jazeera English director of news Salah Negm said, “Nepal has experienced a shocking tragedy that has claimed the lives of thousands. Having a bureau in Kathmandu meant that Al Jazeera was well placed to report on the situation in the immediate aftermath of the quake. We will remain committed to telling Nepal’s human stories of survival, rescue and recovery in the weeks to follow, and will be there every step of the way as the country rebuilds itself.”
With five teams deployed across Nepal, Al Jazeera’s in-depth coverage of the earthquake aims to document all aspects of the disaster and provide viewers with constant updates.
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.
