News Broadcasting
Cyrus Broacha returns with Newscaustic, roasting the news on News9
MUMBAI: Breaking laughs, not just news. Cyrus Broacha, the original master of spoof and satire, is back to tickle the nation’s funny bone with Newscaustic: ‘Let’s roast with Cyrus Broacha on News9.’
Premiered last Friday, the show promises a riot of irreverent humour as Cyrus skewers the week’s biggest headlines alongside the quirkiest tales from politics, entertainment, lifestyle and beyond. The format blends sharp commentary with his trademark comic timing, ensuring viewers get their news served sunny-side-up, with a generous sprinkle of wit.
The buzz began at the ‘News9 Global Summit’ in Dubai this June, where Cyrus set the stage alight with his trademark banter and News9 officially unveiled the show. Speaking about the launch, Cyrus quipped, “Nobody knows if news is serious or not anymore, and it’s not my fault, that’s why I do Newscaustic. So please check it out on News9!”
The first season airs every Friday at 11:00 pm on News9, with repeats across the weekend, and will also be available on connected, linear and OTT platforms. Adding to the fun, an on-ground edition of Newscaustic will be staged on October 4 at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir in Bandra, Mumbai, with tickets starting at Rs 499.
“Cyrus Broacha brings with him a legacy of humour that connects across generations,” said TV9 Network, executive vice president & business head, Sanjeev Mulchandani. “With Newscaustic, we are making news more engaging, more relatable and more shareable.”
TV9 Network, chief revenue officer, Amit Tripathi added, “Humour is a universal connector, and Cyrus is the perfect voice to make news fun without losing its edge.”
So mark your Fridays, with Cyrus back at the mic, the headlines are guaranteed to sting less and sing more.
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.
