News Broadcasting
Amrita TV unveils Onam programme package
MUMBAI: Malayalam entertainment channel Amrita TV has announced its package for the upcoming Onam season. A slew of cultural and entertainment programmes has been slotted for the period of 3 September to 9 September.
The highlight of the package is the premiere of two blockbusters Madhuchandralekha and Vargam. The channel will also telecast ppopular Tamil films Boys, Run and Khushi dubbed in Malayalam.
To spice up the occasion, Amrita TV will also telecast a special episode of its channel driver reality show Super Stars, as per an official communique.
A sneak peak at the extravaganza:
Virunnu: Popular stars visiting other stars’ housesa for Onam celebration.
Onam celebrations by the star cast of our popular serials Sathi Leelavathi & In Jawahar Colony, set in a a residential colony.
Review of new films released; chat sessions with the respective directors and producers.
A comparative look at the last five year’s Onam.
Star Interviews: Mamooty, Sathyan Anthikkad, Vikram, Poornima-Bhagyaraj, Padmapriya, Vikram, Ajith & Shalini
Star family – Interview with star sisters Urvasi, Kalpana, Kalaranjani and their family
Special Udayamritham: Celebrities sharing their onam experience in this special episode of the breakfast show.
Sruthilayam – Musical show participated by celebrities like Bala Bhaskar, Manjari and other star singers.
Onam with senior actresses Kaviyoor Ponnamma, KPAC Lalitha, Sreelatha will share their experience in the film industry.
Special Super Star – Super duper edition of Super Star with celebrity participation.
Special editions of Santhwanam & Samagamam with celebrity participation.
Events – GMMA: Gulf Malayali Music Awards function held at Dubai. participated by the entire music fraternity from Malayalam – schedule 8 September.
Special Treasure Hunt for Youth & Kids
Madras Masala: Onam memories by Tamil film stars
Cattle Race, Documentaries & Tele-films
Chat session between kids actor Dileep & wife Manju Warrier, the lucky kids will be chosen through a special contest.
Telecast on Uthraadam & Thiruvonam days:
Onam celebration by a group of Malayali celebrities and the film personalities settled in Chennai. More than 20 star and celebrity families get together at a theme park (Kishkinta) in Chennai to celebrate Onam. The participants includes K J Jesudas & family, Jayaram & Family, Jeyachandran & family, Priyadarshan & family, Srinivasan & family, Sujatha, Urvasi, Sheela, Jayabharati, Ambika, Revathy, Seema, I V Sasi, Asin, Nayanthara and Sukumari.
The Programme schedule: Dance permonce by actor Vineeth and Gopika Verma
Vanchippattu by professional singers
Pookkalam competition by stars
Interactive session between star families
Tug of war between stars
Musical chair
Amrita TV has also roped in leading celebrities including Menaka, Kalpana, Manju Pillai, Manjari and Shelly to anchor each of the Onam days.
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.
