News Broadcasting
CNN-IBN & Ericsson join hands to launch ‘Networked India’
MUMBAI: Ericsson has partnered with CNN-IBN to launch Networked India – a new initiative that will inspire, identify and celebrate innovations that employ mobility, broadband and cloud to make a social impact or address a specific social need, thereby having the potential to change the world.
The initiative seeks participation from people and organisations across India starting 8 June. The window for sending in nominations is open for five weeks and it ends on 12 July, 2015. Entries can be sent through the campaign portal www.networkedindia.com. The shortlisted entries will be evaluated by a jury at the awards ceremony on 7 August in New Delhi, wherein the best innovations will get project support and cash rewards.
Networked India is in line with Ericsson’s global brand campaign ‘We enable change makers.’
Ericsson head of region India Chris Houghton said, “We have long envisioned the arrival of a networked society where connectivity changes the fundamentals of our daily life. As mobility, broadband, and cloud services are rapidly spreading across the globe, we are witnessing this vision, this transformation, come to life and we wanted to investigate exactly how people are using mobility and the internet to make a positive impact on their own situations and their communities. Through this campaign, we want to provide a platform wherein the real change-makers can come to the fore and share their stories.”
IBN News Network CEO Avinash Kaul added, “The world has come closer because of innovations in the field of communication. As we continue to progress, our special series ‘Networked India’ will aim to highlight and felicitate these innovators and further encourage more such brilliant minds to come forth to help India and the world prosper.”
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.
