News Broadcasting
CNBC launches new ‘Managing Asia’ series sponsored by Hitachi
MUMBAI: CNBC has launched its second regional, multi-platform sponsorship deal with Hitachi for the network’s Managing Asia: Asia Builders series. Content will largely be drawn from a special event in Jakarta on 11 June and broadcast in two-parts on 26 June and 3 July across CNBC’s Asia Pacific TV and all digital platforms.
CNBC award-winning anchor Christine Tan will host the Jakarta discussions, titled Innovative Cities: Rising to the Challenge, at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski. She will talk to a high-powered panel of influential developers, who are behind some of the biggest urban development projects in Southeast Asia, exploring solutions to today’s urban challenges such as overcrowding, congestion and pollution. On the panel will be Datuk Ismail Ibrahim of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Liew Mun Leong of Surbana & Jurong International and SD Darmono of PT Jababeka.
Tan also sits down with Indonesian billionaire-property tycoon Dr (HC) Ir Ciputra, known for the large-scale townships built by his eponymous company, along with his son Candra Ciputra, in a rare interview to examine how innovation has played a key role in building the Ciputra empire.
A poll to assess public opinion on the biggest challenges facing Asian cities is already active on the Asia Builders website at http://cnbcasia.com/events/asiabuilders.
CNBC Asia Pacific vice president of sales Kerry Tarrant said, “We are delighted to be working with Hitachi again. This event and campaign closely aligns with Hitachi’s strategic priorities in the fields of innovation and infrastructure development, while also engaging the influential CNBC business audience on some of the big pan-regional challenges that the Asian economy faces.”
Hitachi Asia managing director Hirohiko Morisaki added, “Hitachi’s Social Innovation Business focuses on improving quality of life for the global community by combining infrastructure solutions with advanced IT technologies. As such, we are excited to partner CNBC once again for this meaningful event and broadcast. While Hitachi is already working closely with key stakeholders from both public and private sectors regionally to resolve urbanization-related issues, this event will provide new perspectives on how Hitachi can better address critical issues through our expertise in areas such as transportation, energy and water solutions.”
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.
