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Electronic goods are top buy in the US this holiday season: IBM Survey
MUMBAI: A recent IBM survey in the US has revealed 55 per cent of consumers plan to spend some portion of their holiday budget on electronics.
An earlier IBM survey had indicated that two-thirds of consumers buying electronic products are seeking multi-functionality from their devices. 80 per cent of respondents in that survey said they would be willing to pay a premium for these services. The survey polled 1000 Americans.
This finding fuels the growing trend of convergence among electronics manufactures and continues the prospects for growth among service providers and manufacturers seeking to fill the information and multi-service opportunities.
IBM adds that both its surveys reinforce the emerging trend in the consumer electronics industry that consumers are looking for Meta-Value. It is not just the device, but the game changing nature of combining new product technologies with accessories, services, and content to provide a simple but complete solution. A solution that changes the way the consumer lives his or her life is what will stand out.
Expansion is key in a tight market: However despite this demand for consumer electronics, electronics companies are still plagued with tight profit margins averaging nearly three per cent.
One area IBM is advising clients to pursue is the expansion of after-sales service to capture more market share and widen their profit margins.
The demand for high-margin services is growing. Of those buyers planning to spend more than $500 on consumer electronics, approximately 65 percent said they would pay more for services on these purchases. In fact, this year alone, 54 percent of consumers plan to spend $500 or more on electronics. Nearly half of consumers expect better service and selection from the manufacturer, and more than one-third of manufacturer-direct shoppers want access to content and other services from the manufacturer.
Almost 41 per cent indicated that they would seek after-sales service from the manufacturer-certified service contractor, with 24 per cent choosing a private service contractor not affiliated with the store or manufacturer. Only 10 per cent of survey participants indicated they would seek service from the store where they purchased the item.
While the study found that two-thirds of consumers plan to buy from mass merchandisers, a surprising number (27 per cent) stated that they would make their purchases directly from the manufacturer.
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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.
