News Broadcasting
Bangalore cable tragedy: CEIG report finds fault with Bescom
BANGALORE: As the search for a scapegoat for the Bangalore cable tragedy continues, Bangalore Electric Supply Company (Bescom) has found itself at the receiving end yet again. An inquiry report by the chief electrical inspector to the government (CEIG) has placed the blame squarely on Bescom.
The inquiry report of the CEIG primarily blames negligence on the part of Bescom for the tragedy that took seven-year-old city boy Anish’s life last week when he came in contact with a loosely hanging ‘Live’ wire on his way back from an errand. It says, “Bescom cannot shirk its responsibility of monitoring safety of cables. This is acute negligence. BCC was partially responsible for the incident and like most cases this pole too did not have a proper fuse or switch. There was a loose connection and the joint too was left open.”
The report holds Bescom responsible for looking into the safety aspect of the cable operators and MSOs’ cables, since they were paying the company. “If Bescom had checked the open joint and taped it, this accident would not have happened,” it says.
The investigation revealed the un-insulated part of the streetlight cable touched the messenger wire supporting the TV cable wires causing the accident.” The origin of the wire couldn’t be determined as it was cut in several places, hence the question remains unanswered whether it was a TV cable or internet cable wire. The police are still looking into the matter.
The first inquiry conducted by the Bescom had found both the company staff and the Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) responsible for the mishap.
Reacting to the inquiry report that put the blame on BCC, executive engineer east zone C Sivanna is quoted in media reports as saying, “It is no fault of BCC. The distribution box installed by the local cable network had come in contact with a live Bescom wire. And a wire had fallen down from its bearing and the boy unfortunately came in contact it. Streetlights are switched on only during the evenings. How can we be blamed when the street lights were off when the incident occurred?”
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.
