News Broadcasting
BBC Entertainment to make documentary on Spice Girls
MUMBAI: BBC Entertainment and Simon Fuller’s 19 have confirmed plans for a brand new Spice Girls documentary.
Spice Girls: Giving You Everything, to be screened in the UK on BBC One, tells the story of the band from the very beginning to the present day.
Despite the huge amount that has been spoken and written about them over the years, this will be the first time that the Spice Girls themselves would be telling the story of what it has been like inside the eye of the Girl Power storm.
Fuller said, “This is the story of the greatest pop phenomenon since The Beatles, told in their own words. It will cover the highs and the lows, the laughter and the tears, from their pre-Spice Girls days and the forming of the group to the first taste of success, world domination and ultimately the break-up and the aftermath.”
BBC Entertainment Commissioning controller Elaine Bedell said, “I am really pleased that the Spice Girls have chosen to celebrate their reunion on BBC One. This unique documentary will provide exclusive access – and we’re also delighted that they’re showing such great support for BBC Children in Need.”
Girl Power will hit UK screens as early as 2 November when BBC One has the world exclusive screening of the Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) video. This single is one of two new songs that the Spice Girls have recorded for their Greatest Hits album and the five-piece will perform the official song for this year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal during the BBC One telethon on 16 November.
Spice Girls: Giving You Everything is directed by Emmy award-winning Bob Smeaton, whose previous work includes The Beatles Anthology. It is produced by Martin Smith and was commissioned by Elaine Bedell, Controller of BBC Entertainment Commissioning. Bob Massie is the Executive Producer for 19 Television.
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.
