News Broadcasting
Budweiser continues partnership with Fifa World Cup
MUMBAI: Anheuser-Busch which owns beer brand Budweiser has extended its partnership with the Federation Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) as the official beer of the 2010 and 2014 Fifa World Cup tournaments.
The brand also serves as the official beer sponsor of the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany from 9 June to 9 July.
The brand also serves as the official beer sponsor of the 2006 Fifa World Cup in Germany this summer.
Anheuser-Busch VP global media and sports marketing Tony Ponturo says, “In every corner of the world, football fans share a passion for their favourite teams and players, and they enjoy watching the games with a cold beer. As the most watched international sporting event, the FIFA World Cup allows Anheuser-Busch to connect our flagship brand with millions of adult beer drinkers and football fans.
“Since 1986, Budweiser has been a strong supporter of this tournament, and we will continue to bring fans closer to the excitement of the FIFA World Cup for the next eight years.”
Anheuser-Busch supports its sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup both in the host country and key international markets. This includes use of the official tournament made for promotional purposes, such as packaging, point-of-sale materials and other advertising. The company also receives on-field signage, outdoor billboards and pouring rights at FIFA World Cup venues.
In 2006, Anheuser-Busch has several activities supporting its FIFA World Cup sponsorship including Budweiser Cup, an amateur tournament that features six-man football teams from around the world. Participating countries include Portugal, Germany, Greece, England, Northern Ireland, United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Italy, Argentina and the United States. Anheuser- Busch also will sponsor the “Man of the Match” award given to each game’s outstanding player. In addition, special cans and bottles with the World Cup logo will be available throughout Europe.
Anheuser-Busch has been a Fifa World Cup partner since 1986. The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be Anheuser-Busch’s eighth consecutive tournament as a major event sponsor, serving as a symbol of the company’s commitment to football around the world.
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.
