News Broadcasting
BBC launches channels in Africa
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels will launch a suite of BBC-branded thematic channels in Africa.
The channels will be available via MultiChoice’s DStv platform, Africa’s leading television provider, from 1 September 2008.
iThe new thematic channels – BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Lifestyle and CBeebies – will replace and build on the success of existing channels BBC Food and BBC Prime.
BBC Worldwide Channels MD Darren Childs said, “Today’s announcement builds on BBC Worldwide channel’s long-term relationship with MultiChoice. In asking us to provide more channels for the platform is testimony to the BBC brand and the quality of our content.”
MultiChoice SA Group CEO Nolo Letele, said: “MultiChoice welcomes the additions of the four new BBC channels, we believe it will contribute to our ongoing commitment of ensuring our customers receive high quality channels from a variety of different genres.”
BBC Knowledge showcases the best of the BBC’s factual and non-fiction entertainment programming. The channel provides five key strands enabling simple appointment viewing: The World delves and explores new cultures around the world; Science and Technology explores new frontiers, from space to motoring; People explores aspects of the human body and mind; The Past brings historical events, places and people back to life; Business offers advice on how to stay on top of today’s challenging business world.
BBC Lifestyle is a destination that looks to offer inspiration for home, family and life. The channel dishes up six tasty strands to entertain engage and inspire viewers. African series, once on BBC Food, will now broadcast in the Food strand.
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.
