News Broadcasting
CNN goes south Asian with a vengeance
Waking up to the competitive environment in the most promising country after China, CNN has decided to launch a television service specific to south Asia beginning 1 July. Popular programmes are to be rescheduled for prime television viewing (beginning 20:00 hours daily), apart from offering locally produced shows specific to south Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh.
“This huge region has many CNN viewers who have wanted their own channel for some time. CNN’s new channel for South Asia is the network’s biggest strategic move for many years,” CNN International President Chris Cramer.
Under the new programming line up, CNN will have regional news on the hour, CNN’s ‘World News’ every half-hour, plus special programming strands on technology and science and CNN’s feature programming.
New shows, produced locally, will also be developed for the South Asia service.
“The launch of the South Asia channel is the next step in CNN International’s ongoing regionalisation strategy and demonstrates our long-term commitment to the increasingly important South Asia region,” said CNN International senior vice-president Rena Golden “CNN will continue to be vigilant in the region by bringing on board talent familiar with regional sensitivities and the socio-political environment.”
Audiences will get more than their fill of CNN’s popular anchor, Riz Khan, who will feature as a prominent presenter on the new channel. Additionally, business programmes will continue with ‘Biz Asia’ airing in prime-time and more regular business updates to be introduced from CNNfn’s correspondent in Mumbai.
“The Indian sub-continent is an important market for CNN and this new service will be an attractive offering for both viewers and cable operators. By time-shifting our programme schedule, the South Asia service will allow CNN’s most popular programmes to reach viewers in the region during their prime time viewing hours,” said Turner International India managing director Anshuman Misra.
The network will fully upgrade its current analogue signal to the advanced digital mode significantly improving the signal quality for local audiences. The CNN South Asia signal will be available via the PanAmSat-4 satellite. The IRD boxes will be distributed in South Asia by Turner International India Pvt. Ltd., which also distributes TCM, Cartoon Network and HBO.
Will CNN’s initiative be welcomed in India? It’s quite likely that it will. Reason: it has in recent times gained cachet with Indian audiences, especially after its coverage of the Indian plane hijacking in Afghanistan. And because Indians and south Asians want the American view on the developments in the region.
But other issues will have to be tackled first: the pricing package for the digital service, and the response by other news services such as Star News, the BBC, Zee News, and the gaggle of other news channels that are expected to launch in the not too distant future. The BBC has a tremendous lead on it because it had started localising a long time back, the other services are run by locals.The Indian and south Asian trek for CNN has just begun.
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.
