News Broadcasting
AR Rahman returns as BAFTA Breakthrough India ambassador
Mumbai: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced AR Rahman as the Breakthrough India ambassador for another year as they invite a new round of applications in India for the programme. Supported by Netflix, this programme will be open for prospective talent across the film, games, and television industries.
The BAFTA Breakthrough India programme will once again identify, promote and support Indian talent within these industries on a global scale, said the organisation in a statement on Wednesday.
“BAFTA Breakthrough India is an awe-inspiring initiative that offers the unique opportunity to promising artists to connect with influential experts in their field, serving as a life-changing experience,” remarked AR Rahman. “India has the supreme talent to offer which was evidenced by the overwhelming response received during the first round of Breakthrough India that compelled the jury to select ten deserving participants instead of five as originally planned.”
Akin to the debut initiative, BAFTA Breakthrough aims to celebrate Indian talent by offering a bespoke programme of support – helping participants develop knowledge about the industry, develop their craft, address barriers to progression, and network globally with people who can influence their careers.
The programme provides a bursary to support international networking opportunities, further to this, recipients will also receive: One-to-one industry meetings and group roundtable sessions; Global networking opportunities with BAFTA membership, industry and peer to pee Breakthrough cohorts; Access to Career Coaching sessions and support with professional skills development; Access to BAFTA’s virtual programme of events and screenings for 12 months, and PR support and showcasing as part of Breakthrough.
“India has a wealth of talent waiting to be discovered and showcased. For the second year, we are delighted to open applications for BAFTA Breakthrough supported by Netflix,” stated BAFTA chief executive Amanda Berry OBE. “The high quality of applicants in our first year prompted the jury to select ten individuals rather than five, and we look forward to receiving applications from the very best emerging talent in film, games, and television again.”
The incredibly talented list of BAFTA Breakthrough’s first cohort comprised of the future stars of the film, games, and television industries: Akshay Singh (writer), Arun Karthick (director/writer), Jay Pinak Oza (cinematographer), Karthikeya Murthy (composer), Palomi Ghosh (actor), Renu Savant (director/writer), Shruti Ghosh (game developer & art director), Sumit Purohit (director/writer), Tanya Maniktala (actor) and Vikramaditya Singh (director).
“Coming together to create opportunities for fresh talent and offering them a global platform is vital to the growth of the entertainment industry,” said Netflix India VP – content Monika Shergill. “Through the BAFTA Breakthrough India initiative, we want to drive progress in creating a more inclusive industry where many tales are told, and many voices tell those stories. We look forward to an equally enthusiastic and quality response as in the first year.”
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.
