News Broadcasting
BBC World now flies on Gulf Air
MUMBAI: Gulf Air has signed an agreement with BBC World. The deal sees Gulf Air carrying the biggest block of BBC World programming offered by any airline in the world.
Gulf Airs passengers can now enjoy two-hour strands of news and feature programmes catering for a wide range of interests, from travel and motoring, to news, movies and technology, on all of the airlines flights.
Shows that will air include Talking Movies, Click Online, Extra Time and Fast Track.
Needless to say content is refreshed monthly. Gulf Air passengers will also be able to keep up to date with a comprehensive 24-minute daily news programme from 1 June 2004.
Gulf Air marketing and sales VP John Butler said, “With our network expanding across the globe, Gulf Air is intent on providing a world class entertainment system for our customers and who better to partner with than the BBC, the worlds most respected and authoritative broadcaster. This deal enhances the recent upgrade of our in-flight entertainment system which gives our passengers a wide range of entertainment choices to enjoy during their flight.”
Earlier this year Gulf Air had introduced an entirely new world of in-flight entertainment to guests with the Air. This is a personal entertainment network, a comprehensive personal audio and video system using state-of-the-art technology. Passengers have a choice of up to 21 channels of onscreen viewing and 21 audio channels.
A personal viewing library offers the premium travellers a choice of additional films including the latest blockbusters, international cinema, classics, regional films and special theme films.
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.
