News Broadcasting
Entries invited for the ‘Samsung AXN Challenge’ in Phillipines
MUMBAI: In multi-discipline adventure racing, you are only as fast as your slowest team member!
Over the past three years The AXN Challenge has been one of AXN Asia’s biggest initiatives to give viewers the ‘Buzz’ firsthand. This involves teams participating in a variety of physically enduring tests ranging from rope climbing to swimming to Kayaking.
Now the broadcaster has invited entries for the Phillipines leg of the adventure race. Samsung has signed on as the title sponsor.
Previous tournaments were held earlier this year in Hong Kong and Malaysia. The closing date for entries is 12 November. The race takes place on 27 November in the heart of Manila’s concrete jungle and the tagline is Go Where No One Else Dares, Do What No One Else Can.
All aspiring participants over 21 years of age have to do is send in entries comprising of three members. The challenges include running, orienteering, rope works, rappelling, swimming, vertical climbing and kayaking. Entries can be sent to one of the categories: Open Men’s, Open Women’s and Open Mixed. The reguistration form can be downloaded at the AXN Asia site..
Adding a twist are the Mystery Tests. These are usually in the form of tasks that are designed to test the racers ability to work as a team as well as to think on their feet. Often requiring more mind power than just muscle power, these tests also add an element of fun and surprise for the racers.
For the uninitiated The AXN Challenge had been conceived in 2001 as a platform for adventurous, daring and action-orientated individuals who seek outdoor thrills and challenges. The debut event was held in Singapore and attracted 180 participants including local celebrities and TV artistes, . Appealing not just to the seasoned adventurers, The AXN Challenge is unique in that it is also specifically designed to enable urban warriors to compete on an equal footing with veteran racers.
Therefore it is not just sportspersons that take part. The event in the past has attracted a broad spectrum of industry and businesses including professionals, entrepreneurs, chief executives and senior managers.
One challenge and Phillipines is no exception is that teams have to start, pass through each checkpoint and finish as a team. Should any team member fail to complete the race due to injury or any other reason, the whole team will be disqualified. The remaining team members may, however continue to finish the race unranked if they choose to do so.
The interesting and innovative Mystery Tests also provide an opportunity for AXN to integrate sponsors in an interactive and seamles manner. Sony Music, Sky Cable and Gilbeys are a few of the companies that have signed up. This will mark the ninth time that the event has been held.
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.
