News Broadcasting
BBC Entetainment & Comedy Commission to ensure meritocracy in commissioning process
MUMBAI: UK broadcaster the BBC is hoping that the changes it has recently made to the Entertainment and Comedy Commissioning team will help put the window of creative competition (WOCC) into action and ensure a true meritocracy of commissioning.
In the entertainment genre there will be a new role for the head of comedy commissioning. This will involve commissioning all in-house and independent scripted comedy. The person will report to BBC Entertainment commissioning controller Jane Lush.
The head of comedy commissioning will be supported by a Commissioning Editor, Comedy, Out of London – based in Glasgow. In this role the person appointed will be responsible for developing Out of London comedy proposals, with a £9m dedicated budget. In addition the BBC will also have three new senior roles which will replace the current commissioning executive roles. The new roles are executive editor, mainstream entertainment; executive Editor, format and executive editor, comedy. The people chsoen will work with independent and in house programme makers, and will have a clear brief and a dedicated development budget.
Explaining the reasons behind the restructuring Lush says, “Entertainment and comedy are incredibly important to our audiences. I am confident these changes will help us get the very best programmes on screen.” BBC has already started making changes to its drama division. The Factual genre and Daytime are each introducing a new commissioning role out of London to better reflect the diversity of the audience and to help build thriving production bases across the UK.
BBC Television director Jana Benett said, “Our primary commitment and determination is to ensure a true meritocracy of commissioning – getting the best ideas on screen as efficiently and as effectively as we can, irrespective of who makes them – and the new structure in each genre is designed to ensure that happens.”
In 2004, even without the creative window in place, the BBC’s commissioning of independents is forecast at more than 30 per cent, well over the 25 per cent quota, for the first time in its history. “Equal access and a one-stop shop for independents and in-house suppliers will ensure a level playing field and a simpler, faster commissioning process should underpin it. A strong independent sector and a flourishing in-house production base are not mutually exclusive and will stimulate the competition that will deliver the best ideas to the audience.” adds Bennett.
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.
