News Broadcasting
BBC wins third Banff World Television Festival Outstanding Achievement Award
MUMBAI: The BBC has been named winner of this year’s BWTVF Outstanding Achievement Award, becoming the first broadcaster to win the prestigious global award three times.
The award winner is chosen annually from the world’s broadcasters by the Banff Television Foundation Board of Governors for work over a period of time.
The judges commended the BBC’s exceptional programmes including: Strictly Come Dancing, Planet Earth and Doctor Who, and for leading the development of digital television, radio and online services.
“The Banff World Television Festival salutes the many outstanding achievements of the BBC,” says Jennifer Harkness, BWTVF Director of Content. “The BBC continues to lead the way with its outstanding television programming and brand.”
Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, will accept the award on behalf of the BBC on Sunday 10 June. He will also be speaking at the closing session of nextMEDIA, BWTVF’s sister event.
BBC departments who have previously received the award are the Natural History Unit in 1990 and Drama in 1998. Other winners have included America’s CBS and HBO and UK broadcaster Channel 4.
Mark Thompson said today: “I am delighted to be accepting the Outstanding Achievement Award on behalf of everyone at the BBC.
“It is an honour for our high quality and successful programming across several genres to be recognised by the Banff World Television Festival and celebrated before the international broadcasting community.
“I am particularly pleased for the recognition of the BBC’s forward-looking role in innovating for new digital platforms and audiences across television, radio and online.”
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.
