News Broadcasting
BBC series on Indian film directors from 31 July
MUMBAI: BBC World is looking to Bollywood to strengthen its general entertainment lineup. From tomorrow 31 July at 10 pm, BBC World is introducing the first in a series of five documentaries called Bollywood Bosses.
This would feature in-depth interviews with five of Bollywood’s top directors: Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ram Gopal Verma, Rakesh Roshan, Karan Johar and Yash Chopra.
Drawing upon the opinions of industry insiders, each episode takes a closer look at the men behind Bollywood blockbusters like Devdas, Rangeela, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Dil To Pagal Hai. Opening the series this weekend is the profile of Ram Gopal Verma, known as a maverick in the Bollywood circles. The programme chronicles the successes and failures that have defined the man behind films such as Satya and Company. It follows Verma’s journey from his beginnings in Hyderabad to the world of Bollywood.
Verma discusses the chance meeting with South Indian superstar Nagarjuna that changed Verma from a video library owner into the director of his first film Shiva. Verma also comments on the slew of underworld films that many believe were inspired by his film Satya, explaining why he feels Satya was not just another underworld movie.
The director also clarifies his motives behind constantly giving new talent a platform, saying: “I’m not here to give voice to young directors. I have no intentions of encouraging new talent or doing charity business here. They have their own agenda, they are using me as the means, or one of the better means, to get where they want.”
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.
