News Broadcasting
Bangalore to get Fashion TV Cafe, lounges & merchandise
MUMBAI : French channel Fashion TV is in expansion overdrive.
The channel, that has hit headlines in India oftener for criticism of its content by the I&B ministry, has outlined an expansion strategy that will incorporate businesses, revolving around lifestyle, into its portfolio of offerings. The initiatives include the F Bar & Lounge; f cafe and salon; merchandise and accessories; publishing; music and multimedia products.
The first F Bar & Lounge will launch in Bangalore this month and will be followed by similar offerings in a phased national rollout plan, says Fashion TV India business head Ram Mirchandani. The F Bar & Lounge, like its counterparts in Warsaw, Buenos Aires and Budapest, will bring to life ‘international panache’ as seen on Fashion TV, and will host fashion-based events and features, international talent including DJ’s, fashion designers, and models. Mirchandani says it would represent a hip lounge for the fashion conscious segment.
FTV India has commenced exhibiting Indian talent covering signature shows, featuring Indian designers, models, photographers in the Past few months.
The objective of the lounge is to give a complete 360 degree fashion experience, says Mirchandani. “We will also focus on broadcast of Indian content supported by a host of ground events and other off air activity, taking fashion well beyond the television screen” he adds.
Fashion TV India will help its franchise partners select premises for the lounge as well as design the interiors; source the merchandise and set up, right down to the executional details.
A franchise of Fashion TV Paris, Fashion TV India’s Indian programming currently includes more than 100 hours of exclusive India centric programs showcasing the latest in Indian fashion, designers, models and parties. Fashion TV India reaches around 22 million households around the country through CDN (Cable Distribution Network), a part of HMA Udyog, promoted by Lalit Modi’s Modi Entertainment Group.
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.
