News Broadcasting
E! signs Asian licensing deals
CANNES: The world’s largest producer and distributor of entertainment news and lifestyle-related programming, E! Networks has secured a range of Asian licensing deals in the first quarter of this year, selling 600 hours of entertainment and lifestyle programming to broadcasters across the region.In India, Zoom Channel took a range of E! titles, including Girls of The Playboy Mansion, Gastineau Girls, and Gone Bad.
AXN (India) has meanwhile, also licensed E! and Style programming.
South Korea’s On Style opted for E! News Weekend, 101 Entertainment Countdown Series, Dr. 90210 and Style Star, while CJ Media took Isaac, 50 Most Specials, Gastineau Girls, Girls of The Playboy Mansion, The E! True Hollywood Story, and Gone Bad for O’live Channel.
CJ Media has also picked up select titles for ZTM and Home CGV. Japan’s Reality TV licensed Gastineau Girls and 101 Most Shocking Moments, while Superchannel acquired Live from the Red Carpet specials, including the 2006 Emmy Awards.
Shanghai Media Group (China), UBC Inside (Thailand), Lifestyle and Studio 23 (Philippines), Channel 9 (Thailand), Sun Media and Story On Channel (South Korea) have also licensed E! and Style programming.
E! Networks managing director for Asia Christine Fellowes noted, “The Asian television market is booming and we look forward to unveiling our new slate of entertainment and lifestyle-themed programming at MipTV 2006. E! Networks’ programming continues to have strong international appeal, particularly in the Asia Pacific market, and we’re delighted to deliver our latest offerings including Sexiest, 10 Ways and Instant Beauty Pageant to our partners in Asia.”
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.
