News Broadcasting
BBC World celebrates 60 years of Independence with ‘India & Pakistan 07’
MUMBAI: BBC World is launching a month-long series titled India & Pakistan 07 to celebrate 60 years of Independence Day for both countries.
The series will comprise of Indian School, Another Pakistan, The Wedding Business, The Other Side and Desi DNA. Nik Gowing who hosts World News Today will be reporting from India while Mishal Husain will be reporting from Pakistan.
Indian School slated to premiere on 4 August, is a documentary which follows a school year in one of the world’s fastest growing cities Pune. It focuses on two very different private schools and looks at the students’, parents’ and teachers’ dreams and anxieties in a world that changes every day.
Also on 4 August The Wedding Business will be unveiled. This follows a young Indian couple preparing for their wedding. The show will go behind the scenes to explore the business aspect of this multi-million dollar industry.
Another Pakistan which will be aired on 25 August, discovers a colourful, musical and vibrant Pakistan that the rest of the world rarely sees.
Reflecting the character of India and Pakistan, a two-part documentary, The Other Side visits Pakistan with an Indian, while a Pakistani makes the reverse trip as they gain an insight into each other’s countries, for a unique look at what unites and divides their people.
Desi DNA will be aired on 11 August, is an Asian arts, music, entertainment and culture magazine show which looks at the vibrant arts environment in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, exploring the myriad cultural offerings in these very different countries. Besides throughout the season, the channel will offer news coverage of events and celebrations in the two countries.
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.
