News Broadcasting
BBC Magazines to sell Origin Publishing
MUMBAI: BBC Magazines in the UK has announced that it has sold Origin Publishing and all of the non-BBC related titles published by it to a management buy-out team led by its current MD, Andy Marshall.
BBC Magazines will retain the BBC-branded titles previously produced by Origin in a new subsidiary to be called Bristol Magazines which will be chaired by BBC Magazines MD Peter Phippen.
BBC Magazines conducted a tender process involving a number of companies and accepted Origin’s MBO proposal as the highest bid put forward. BBC Magazines will retain a minority stake in Origin Publishing for a period of time in a staged exit and Origin will continue to provide management services to certain BBC titles during this period. Andy Marshall will also act as Bristol Magazines MD.
Phippen says, “It is sad to have to sell Origin, and to be saying farewell to some very talented people but this is in line with the new remit for BBC Magazines. Origin is an excellent company and I’m sure the MBO team will ensure the business continues to prosper. For our part, we remain committed to Bristol as a publishing centre. Indeed, we are moving Homes & Antiques there and have recently announced our next launch, BBC Mind Games. I’m very excited about our new venture.”
Marshall says, “I am delighted that we have the chance to take Origin forward as part of an MBO. We have a fantastic team here with great vision and passion and I know that the business will continue to grow and develop under their leadership. I am also delighted to have been asked to manage the development of the BBC’s new venture here in Bristol.”
BBC Worldwide’s advisers in managing the sale process and in evaluating the bids were Ernst & Young. The non-BBC titles being sold include Blonde Hair, Hair Ideas, Your Hair, Beautiful Cards, Koi and 220 Triathlon.
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.
