News Broadcasting
CNN International, MediaCorp win top Asian TV Awards
NEW DELHI: CNN International and MediaCorp have won top awards at this year‘s 16th Asian Television Awards.
According to the Asia-Pacific Broadcasters Union (ABU), the Singapore-based broadcaster MediaCorp won the Terrestrial Broadcaster of the Year award, while CNN International won both the Cable & Satellite Channel and Network of the Year awards.
CNN Correspondent Anna Coren was named ‘Best News Presenter or Anchor,‘ while the CNN Freedom Project was also recognized with two of its reports receiving acclamations for ‘Best Single News Story/Report‘ and ‘Best Social Awareness Programme.‘
“To win five awards, including network and channel of the year, is an extraordinary achievement and testament to the excellence, dedication and bravery of our people in Asia Pacific and around the world,” said CNN International EVP and MD Tony Maddox. “It is especially pleasing to see recognition and reward for two of our CNN Freedom Project programs, an initiative which remains fearless and unwavering in its determination to help bring an end to modern day slavery.”
The annual awards show was held in Singapore last week with 1,040 entries received from 14 countries and regions. Top celebrities from around the region had gathered to recognise the best in the television industry in Asia.
Regional broadcaster MediaCorp had 30 nominations this year, the same as last year.
MediaCorp CEO Shaun Seow said: “Well, it‘s really humbling because when you look at the quality of the nominations this year, it certainly has been ratcheting up and to be recognised among Asia‘s best is really an honour for us.”
MediaCorp Channel 5‘s ‘The Noose‘ (Season 4) won Best Comedy Programme and actor Suhaimi Yusof bagged the Best Comedy Performance by an actor for his role in the show.
Channel NewsAsia‘s ‘Stressbuster‘ took home the Best Lifestyle Programme award.
A total of 39 awards were given out including three new ones: Best Pre-school Education Programme, Best Theme Song and Best Drama Screenplay.
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.
