News Broadcasting
BBC mounts most ambitious broadcasting operations in its history
MUMBAI: As the US-led invasion steps into full throttle, BBC World has abandoned its regular programming schedule and is providing extensive rolling news coverage of the situation in Iraq.
Terrestrial broadcasters from around the world are simultaneously broadcasting BBC World’s breaking news as it happens, a company release states.
BBC World is being co-presented live from around the world by Nik Gowing in Doha, Qatar; Lyse Doucet in Amman, Jordan; Jon Sopel in Kuwait; Annita McVeigh and Mishal Husain in Washington and the BBC World team in London.
In addition, BBC News has put extra teams of reporters and crews in more than 30 key locations. BBC personnel are also based in Iran, Egypt, Syria, Bahrain and Turkey, with a journalistic presence on carriers such as Ark Royal.
Overall, the BBC is mounting one of the most ambitious broadcasting operations in its history to cover the invasion of Iraq, the release says.
The BBC News deployment to the region is in excess of 200 staff, including producers and camera people. All staff have attended a week-long hostile environment course and correspondents are carrying personal body armour and CBR (chemical, biological and radiation) suits in their kit bags.
TV viewers had a look at some of that when following the first US-UK strikes on Iraq, a scud missile attack on the border with Kuwait was reported. The correspondent from the “frontlines” was seen wearing a gas mask while reporting the news. Just in case the Scuds had chemical weapons material, the viewers were informed.
The question this raises is about those intrepid journos who’re sending out news from the real frontlines i.e. Baghdad itself. It must be like a nightmare from Hell for them.
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.
