News Broadcasting
Boom and Belonging, News18 Bangla’s Puja Tale Rings Twice on Global Stage
MUMBAI: If storytelling were an art form, this one’s painted in vermillion and gold. News18 Bangla’s Durga Puja brand campaign, crafted in collaboration with Daaker Shaaj, has struck global gold again earning a coveted spot on Ads of the World for the second consecutive year. The campaign celebrates Bengal’s biggest festival through a cinematic blend of emotion, artistry, and community spirit that feels as timeless as the beats of the dhaak itself.
Durga Puja isn’t just a festival, it’s five days of goosebumps, glitter, and grace that transform Kolkata into a living, breathing artwork. It’s where neighbourhoods turn into museums, and the faithful become storytellers. Channeling that magic, the campaign uses the ubiquitous boom, crafted with Daaker Shaaj’s signature detailing, as its visual thread connecting everyday Puja moments in a shared celebration of togetherness.
The film’s Bengali copywriting hums with poetry and pride, weaving diversity, devotion, and the festival’s chaotic beauty into one seamless story. It captures the pulse of the city the late-night pandal-hopping, the sparkle of new clothes, and the laughter echoing over bhog and beats. Every frame feels soaked in nostalgia yet freshly relevant, offering viewers an emotional walk through Bengal’s cultural soul.
Created by Inner Circle, this is not just a campaign but a cultural postcard, one that continues News18 Bangla tradition of elevating festive storytelling. Its repeat recognition on Ads of the World cements the brand’s reputation for innovative, inclusive, and locally rooted creativity that resonates globally.
“Durga Puja is not only a religious festival but an emotive experience for people of Bengal. This campaign brilliantly captures that spirit, blending its rich culture with compelling storytelling,” said Xiaomi India RMM East Gourav Sinha.
Echoing that sentiment Wow! Momo, CMO and co-founder L. Muralikrishnan added, “Durga Puja is not just a festival, it’s a celebration of myriad hues of what Bengal stands for; which is ‘For All. By All.’ This campaign beautifully captures that spirit, blending cultural authenticity with inclusive storytelling.”
By celebrating the vibrancy and inclusivity of Durga Puja, News18 Bangla’s campaign doesn’t just showcase Bengal’s creative might, it reminds us why great ideas, like great festivals, are “for all, by all”. As the dhaak beats rise once again, this campaign proves that when culture meets creativity, the world can’t help but dance along.
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.
