News Broadcasting
Chandra’s global news channel not before end 2006
NEW DELHI: Zee Telefilms, which had proposed a global news channel presenting the Asian viewpoint to the world, is holding talks with other countries in the region for partnerships.
Replying to a query posed by Indiantelevision.com on the news channel, which had been announced by him earlier this year at Ficci-Frames 2005, Chandra today said, “We are holding talks with countries like Pakistan, Singapore and China (to be part of the venture).”
According to Chandra, “The proposed global news channel with an Asian perspective is likely to become a reality only by end 2006. But work is on.”
Asked where the global news channel would be based, he informed that no decision has been taken yet. Still, he did not rule out Dubai as being one of the candidates for the headquarters.
Zee’s international operations are based out of Dubai’s Media City, which is fast emerging the home for many media companies. Even international cricket’s apex body, ICC, shifted its home from London to Dubai this year.
The shareholding pattern in the global news venture, too, is undecided as that can be done when the partner countries are finalized.
Speaking at Ficci-Frames, Chandra had said that on the lines of CNN and BBC, which highlight American and British/European viewpoints in the global context, Asia should also have a news channel of its own.
He had then said that Zee Telefilms was taking the lead in launching such a global news channel.
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.
