News Broadcasting
CNN wins Peabody Award for Katrina coverage
MUMBAI: The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication announced that CNN has received a George Foster Peabody Award for its distinguishing coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
For CNN’s 10th Peabody, the judges cited CNN for being the “go-to” channel for “essential, up-to-the-minute information for viewers, listeners and online users” about the disaster.
CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton said,”We are pleased that the Peabody panel deemed our work to be worthy of one of the most prestigious awards in journalism. The award not only honored our dedication to the story but our unique ability to provide millions of people with news and information across multiple platforms. No matter where or when they needed the news about Katrina, people around the world depended on CNN.”
CNN provided unmatched coverage of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina before and after it made landfall on 29 August 2005, showing once again its power as a breaking news network and the premier source for news and updates long after the U.S. Gulf Coast felt the full force of the hurricane.
CNN’s coverage went beyond television and cable news. Through CNNRadio and CNN Newsource, CNN provided important news and report packages to its numerous affiliates in the region and elsewhere. CNN.com provided extensive online coverage of the disaster as well, servicing more than 33.2 million videos and more than 572 million page views within the first week of the tragedy.
CNN also offered public service journalism through the creation of a “Victims and Relief Desk,” which aired segments and posted resources in an attempt to link those left stranded with relief efforts. The Peabody awards will be presented on 5 June in New York City. Jon Stewart will be the master of ceremonies.
Established in 1939 and first awarded in 1940, the George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished achievement and meritorious service by radio and television networks, stations, producing organizations, cable television organizations and individuals. They perpetuate the memory of the banker-philanthropist whose name they bear.
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.
