News Broadcasting
Broadband beats broadcast in network TV revolution: report
MUMBAI: A major new strategic management report warns that broadband video services will eventually displace broadcast distribution, but telecommunications providers may not be the ultimate winners of the network television revolution.
IPTV — internet protocol television — the delivery of digital television and other audio and video services over broadband data networks using the same basic protocols that support the internet, will transform both television and the web.
Telecommunications companies around the world are rushing to roll out television services, while online providers are ramping up their video offering, but broadcasters appear to be largely oblivious to this significant threat and opportunity.
The report, IPTV: Broadband meets broadcast — The network television revolution, concludes:
— Within a decade, video services delivered over broadband networks will be firmly established as an alternative platform to digital satellite, terrestrial and cable transmission.
— The real competition will come not between operators of rival platforms, but between closed and open networks.
— Television will become more like the web, as scheduled broadcast channels are displaced by a choice of millions of download and on-demand programs.
— ‘Telco TV’ services will be challenged by an ‘Open Source TV’ distribution model, offering a much more diverse choice of free and pay programming over the open internet.
“New players will exploit the disruptive power of the internet and change the form and function of television forever,” says Dr William Cooper, co-author of the report. “Broadband television will ultimately adopt the attributes of the web, providing access to an almost limitless selection of programs.”
Co-author Graham Lovelace explains: “The ‘pull’ of broadband network television will replace the ‘push’ of traditional broadcast television. In this new and massively fragmented environment, control will flow from the supplier to the consumer, as viewers construct their personalized schedules from a vast array of international providers, and watch programs whenever and wherever they want.”
The 200-page report includes 25 case studies and provides a comprehensive assessment of the fast-emerging and intensely competitive landscape. It explains the ways in which services can be delivered over both closed networks and the open internet through multicast and unicast distribution using internet protocols. The report details the challenges ahead for those seeking to launch IPTV services, and explores likely successful business models.
IPTV: Broadband meets broadcast–The network television revolution is published by informitv, and is available online from http://iptv-report.com.
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.
