News Broadcasting
Cartoon Network, Pogo score well with kids this summer
MUMBAI: Cartoon Network and Pogo, continue to top the popularity charts among kids in the summer months. The channels claim, that according to the latest ratings of Tam (4-14 C&S, All India, 1-31 May, all days, 24 hours), Cartoon Network and Pogo, are the number one and two channels in the kids channel space with the channel share of 5.1 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively.
Cartoon Network and Pogo form a formidable pair of kids’ channel with combined channel share of 9.7 per cent, which is 20 per cent higher than the combined channel share of all other kids’ channels.
As part of the summer programming line up, Pogo premiered the first three installments of the Harry Potter movies, – titles included Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone on 7 May, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets on 14 May and Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban on 21 May.
The movies received an average of 1.3 TVR (for all airings) for all India, in C&S 4-14, all SEC audience beating all competitive programming on other TV channels including all kids’ channels, national news channels and also channels in GEC and music genres at all India level.
On the other hand, Cartoon Network continued to entertain kids’ through the summer with shows such as Tom & Jerry tales, Tom & Jerry kids, Pokemon, Franklin, Dragon Tales, Koala Brothers, Beyblade, Richie Rich, The Popeye show and Baby Looney Tunes amongst others.
This summer the combined channel share of all kids’ channels was augmented by 27 per cent, from pre summer shares of 12.7 per cent (February to March) to summer shares of 16.1 per cent (April to May). Cartoon Network and Pogo made an individual contribution of 27 per cent and 26 per cent respectively to the development.
Turner International India vice president advertising sales and networks India and South Asia Monica Tata said. “We are pleased that we have delivered on our promise to Indian kids in bringing them the best in world-class programming across genres, including movies such as the blockbuster Harry Potter series. This repeated, over-whelming performance of both our number one and number two kids’ channel’s – Cartoon Network and Pogo across summer, indeed, demonstrates that we truly understand the entertainment needs of Indian’s kids’ best. It is our endeavour to continually provide compelling content that is both engaging and entertaining to our loyal audience.”
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.
