News Broadcasting
CNN launches mobile polling on ‘News Biz Today’
MUMBAI: CNN has announced that its regional breakfast programme News Biz Today has introduced a Question of the Day opinion poll. The poll enables viewers to participate via the web and mobile phone with CNN’s news programming. The broadcaster has stated that the poll is the first of its kind in Asia.
Each morning the shows anchors pose a question that is strongly relevant to the news of the day. Viewers around the world can participate in the polling either by text messaging with their GSM mobile phones (telephone number: +61 427 077 076) or online at the Question of the Day section at http://edition.cnn.com/asia or by email at nbt@cnn.com.
Viewers can also register online to receive questions on their mobile phones on a regular basis. Results of the poll will be updated throughout the show as well as online at the Question of the Day section.
News Biz Today is a three and a half hour rolling news programme. It is broadcast live from CNN’s regional production center in Hong Kong. Its focus rests on key stories making headlines throughout the morning. The programme provides live reports from the markets around the world that give an overview of business and financial developments, plus reports from CNN’s correspondents on news breaking across the region.
CNN International Asia Pacific senior VP Ian Macintosh was quoted in an official release saying, “CNN continues to lead the way in integrating television broadcast and new media. With this innovative interactive poll we are able to involve our audiences in our programming and get their feedback on the news issues of the day thereby adding a new interactive dimension to News Biz Today”.
The polling is being sponsored by Nokia, CNN’s long-time cross-platform marketing partner. Nokia is also the sponsor of CNN Mobile the mobile telephone news and information service that was jointly developed by CNN and Nokia in 1999, as well as CNN’s Tech Watch segment. This airs on News Biz Today and the network’s evening prime time show Asia Now.
Nokia Mobile Phones Asia Pacific marketing services director Pasi Jarvenpaa added, “We are pleased to sponsor CNN’s Question of the Day mobile polling service as it is very much in line with the Nokia vision for ‘Life goes Mobile’. This service increases the wireless interactivity opportunities on the mobile phone for users and allows users to participate by giving their opinions and vote on matters which are pertinent to the news of the day.”
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.
