News Broadcasting
CNN-IBN launches series ‘The Golden South’
MUMBAI: CNN-IBN has unveiled a series focusing on south India . The series The Golden South also marks the 50-year celebrations of formation of the four southern states – Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.
Launched on 30 October, The Golden South will run till 26 November. The series will feature weekend half hour specials, which will air programmes pertaining to south India ranging from its diverse culture, food habits, music, entertainment, religion etc. The programming would also announce the Golden Keralite, the Golden Andhraite, the Golden Tamilian and the Golden Kannadiga (basis a viewer voting) in each of the four half hour specials on 4 November, 11 November, 18 November and 25 November respectively, informs an official release.
The series will also have a special feature The Big South Debate, a one-hour special show on 26 November. The findings of a nationwide poll that would sense the mood of South India will be revealed in The Big South Debate.
According to CNN-IBN & IBN7 editor-in-chief Rajdeep Sardesai, “Our aim for presenting this series is to celebrate the golden jubilee of the grand southern states. Our effort is to provide our viewers an in-depth knowledge about the formation and development of the states and its people, who have made India proud. I am confident that our viewers will find this programming interesting and engaging.”
“Thematic content like this differentiated offering generates higher interest with advertising community” adds CNN-IBN & IBN7 national sales head Sanjay Dua.
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.
