News Broadcasting
Casbaa to sponsor Emmies’ regional voting
HONG KONG: The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) has announced it will be sponsoring the 2002 International Emmy Awards regional voting in Hong Kong for the Asian movies and mini-series category. This category, judged in Hong Kong, attracted 14 semi-finalists from across Asia and was reflected in similar voting in London, Paris and Miami.
Hosted by Casbaa-member company Media Financial Services (MFS) and supported by Casbaa member Bloomberg Television, the International Emmys event is organised by the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The 2002 final Awards will be made in November at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, an official release says.
“The objective of stimulating quality local programming is one of the highest priorities on the Casbaa agenda,” said Simon Twiston Davies, CEO, Casbaa. “This has been a great opportunity to work with a global body dedicated to promoting the highest standards for TV production. We are certainly proud that our organization has been invited to help select and supply judges for this prestigious event.”
Among Casbaa member companies sitting on the judging panel were I-Cable, Star Group, TVBI, APV, Walt Disney International and Columbia Tristar Asia Pacific. Bloomberg Television in Hong Kong supplied the venue for the Hong Kong round of judging, while MFS acted as the official host.
“This is a very important milestone for the development of television in Asia and we are delighted to be working with Casbaa on this project and hope to work them in future years,” said Michael Spiessbach, chairman of MFS.
“We are very pleased to partner with CASBAA in what we hope is the first of many projects we initiate in Asia,” said MJ Sorenson, director of marketing and communications for the International Council. “CASBAA’s high level membership is important for us as we are seeking to grow an Asian base of broadcasters, producers and distributors.”
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.
