News Broadcasting
Discovery special showcases communal harmony in Punjab
MUMBAI: This should provide a welcome break to those fed up with watching the likes of Tagodia creating trouble between communities.
A Discovery India special examines a small town in east Punjab, Malerkotla, where Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs have lived in harmony for over five centuries.
The one hour special A Legend Of Malerkotla: A Tale from the Punjab airs on 17 January at 9 pm in the Discover India slot with a repeat on 18 January at 9 am and on 22 January at 12 Noon. After India achieved independence in 1947 Punjab was the worst hit by this ethnic frenzy. In this mayhem, there was only one island of peace in Punjab, and that was the tiny Muslim ruled principality of Malerkotla.
The special has been made by filmmakers, Iqbal and Anu Malhotra and features interviews with some of the residents who reminisce about the days following 15 August 1947. Violence was visible across the border but never percolated to Malerkotla. The special captures their stories, interspersed with recreated enactments of the scenes of violence in Punjab,says a channel press release.
Discovery India marketing director Aditya P Tripathi said, “In response to the growing popularity of the Discover India series, the Discovery Channel presents a new season of interesting programmes that depict the country’s multiple facets. A Legend Of Malerkotla will appeal to all secular Indians, especially to viewers in Punjab and Haryana. In the coming months, we plan to bring in more such programmes for the Discover India series.”
Legend has it that for centuries, the town has been peaceful because of the special boon bestowed upon it by Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the Sikh Gurus. Others feel that it is simply the presence of the shrine of Baba Sadruddin, popularly known as Baba Haidar Sheikh, the Sufi saint, who founded the town of Malerkotla more than 500 years ago. Never in the town’s history has communal dissent disturbed the prevailing peace.
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.
