News Broadcasting
Chhota VJ wannabes ready, steady and raring to go
MUMBAI: Young at heart, innocent, curious. These are just a few of the qualities found in the kids that Nickelodeon has shorlisted as finalists for its Chota VJ Hunt. The channel shortlisted 14 finalists after six weeks and sifting through a staggering 4,300 entries.
Listening to them speak about themselves certainly whets the appetite about seeing them on the tube. Take seven-year-old Aman Singh. The young ‘un certainly has an insatiable curiosity about the world around him. “I have been called Mr Question Book since age four as I constantly ask what, why questions.” Query him about programming choices and pat comes the reply,” My favourite show is Khulja Sim Sim on Star Plus. I do not watch Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon. My sister tunes in to them.” The icing on the cake is this: “I came to know about the Chota VJ Hunt by accident while visiting my friend’s home. He and his group were planning to register. I then had to force my mother into giving me permission. I was unprepared and so I just told a joke and sang a song. Next thing I know I got chosen.”
Like Singh, 12-and-a-half-year-old Kavita Arjungi did not hear about the hunt from the tube. She says: ” I had tried for the Children’s Day Special but was rejected. My sister was chosen. Then my mother’s friend said that this was another opportunity I could try for. I have been learning dancing from Shiamak Davar’s for the past two years. I like to choreograph not just Hindi film songs but also songs that are fast and hummable.”
Asked about whether kids’ programming could be improved, she said: “There is too much dubbed Hindi programming on Cartoon Network. They should be more English in flavour so that I can follow the goings on more easily. I do not get too much time to sit in front of the telly but when I do I enjoy watching Rugrats on Nickelodeon as I find babies cute and adorable. If I was chosen it would mean the world to me as I was extremely disappointed last time around.”
Another finalist Miel Yusuf liked Nickelodeon as it was nice and friendly. She draws cartoons for fun and her favourite character is Ginger. The girl has been playing tennis since age five. She says that she would enjoy the channel more if there was a programme schedule easily available.
Currently, the VJs can be seen in a two minute promo on the channel giving a quick introduction of themselves. The winner will be declared later this month.
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.
