News Broadcasting
CMM Broadcasting posts slim profits for JQ 2002-3, shifts to PAS-10, reaches the UK
MUMBAI: CMM Broadcasting Network, the company that runs the CMM music channel and faith channel Aastha, has declared a net profit of Rs 2,97,000 for the JQ 2002-3, up a whopping 37 per cent from the figure of Rs 2,17,000 for the corresponding period last year.
Net sales from operations have increased 8 per cent to Rs 12.57 million up from Rs 11.58 million, total income has gone up marginally by 1 per cent from Rs 18.07 million to Rs 17.88 million. The company’s staff costs have risen considerably, from Rs 4,62,000 last year to Rs 7,73,000 in the quarter just ended. But tight control over other expenditure has enabled it to show a rise in its net.
CMM, the company’s digital free to air music channel and Aastha have recently shifted to PAS 10, says the company. Earlier available in 156 countries globally, Aastha and CMM are now available in an additional four countries, the important addition being UK, home probably the largest Indian diaspora.
The changeover will enable CMM Broadcasting Network to fulfill the longstanding demands of Indian-descent UK residents, says the management. Though available as a free-to-air channel there currently, it is slated to become a pay service over time.
PanAmSat’s fleet of spacecraft will also enable Aastha reach viewers in the USA too shortly, says the 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.
