News Broadcasting
Crime, trauma, true grit in new shows on Reality TV
MUMBAI: Reality TV is all set with a slew of fresh programmes this month. The new programmes that are being introduced are Burn Center, Caught: Ice Chest Murders, Hollywood and Crime, No Boundaries and Crime Strike.
On the occasion of the launch, Reality TV marketing manager for India and Asia Pacific Flecka Picardo said, “It has been our conscious attempt to provide meaningful, real life, entertainment through the channel. Each of these shows captures how the human spirit can overcome tough and challenging situations with determination and courage.”
Burn Centre examines tragic burn cases, the state of the art treatment given to burn victims at premier medical emergency wards and their road to recovery. It is a traumatic and touching account of burn victims. The show clearly drives the message that every accident victim suffers a very subjective “loss” and hence the best medical aid is achieved with understanding of the individual psychology of each patient. Burn Centre will be aired every Sunday at 8.45 am and repeated at 6.20 pm.
Caught: Ice Chest Murders gives an account of the experiences of cops, detectives and lawyers who have struggled for years to solve some of the most baffling cases in crime. This show reveals the fact that the most seasoned criminals are bound to make crucial mistakes while committing crimes. The programme is an honest portrayal of how careful observation can cause the human mind to come up with insights in solving mysteries and detecting crime. The show will be aired every Friday at 9.40 am and repeated at 3.10 pm and 9.05 pm.
No Boundaries which will be aired every Monday and Tuesday at 9.40 am and repeated at 3.10 pm and 9.05 pm, is a revised series of the existing version of this show. This show is an adaptation of the highly successful and riveting series which is popular in the northern regions of UK. It is a reality based adventure where the leadership, navigational and teamwork skills of the contestants are put to the test while traversing a thousand miles of brutal, unforgiving wilderness.
Hollywood and Crime is a fascinating and thought provoking account of how Hollywood celebrities have had their personal experiences in the dark world of crime. The programme captures a yet unexplored facet of the lives of the rich and the famous and depicts how individual celebrities have handled their personal run-ins with crime and will be aired throughout the week at 8.45 am and repeated at 5.25 pm and 10.00 pm.
On the other hand, Crime Strike is a compelling account of how crime victims have been forced to take the law into their hands. Each episode features civilian crime fighters faced with life or death decisions. The show will be aired at 6.50 pm and 7.15 pm on weekdays and repeated at 10.55 pm and 11.55 pm.
Reality TV was launched in India in February 2003 and is distributed by Zee Turner, the distribution alliance between Zee Telefilms Ltd and Turner International.
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.
