News Broadcasting
FremantleMedia inks deals with Canada’s CTV Network
MUMBAI: FremantleMedia has inked multi-year deals with Canada’s CTV for both American Idol and Canadian Idol. The announcement was made by FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Fremantle International Distribution managing director David Ellender together with CTV Media Group chair and CTV president of programming Susanne Boyce.
Fremantle International Distribution through its Canadian agent, Media Group International, inked a long-term broadcast extension with CTV securing the Canadian broadcast rights to American Idol seasons six, seven, eight and nine. The long-term commitment cements CTV’s ongoing relationship with the programme that began in September 2002 when the broadcaster signed on for American Idol’s season one two-part finale.
Since then, American Idol has become a blockbuster sensation in Canada with each season outperforming the previous one. Last year, season four of American Idol in Canada finished as the country’s No. 2 programme in the Top 10.
Now, Canadians have made CTV’s season five premiere of American Idol another record breaker, when more than three million viewers tuned into the 17 January, 2006 two-hour premiere.
Ellender said, “After its proven success in the Canadian market, we are thrilled to have signed a long-term deal with CTV to continue their relationship with the eternally popular American Idol. The programme has been a massive hit and we are certain it will only go from strength to strength as our partnership with CTV continues.”
Simultaneously, FremantleMedia has inked a multi-year extension with CTV for the format rights to Canadian Idol, Canada’s most successful English-language homegrown series. CTV has locked up the format rights for seasons four, five, six, seven and eight of the series that has spawned three record-breaking seasons to date. In Canada, CTV has taken the Canadian Idol program to the No. 1 spot on Canada’s Top 20 for three consecutive years.
Season three recently generated 38 million votes, more than the country’s population, while averaging more than two million viewers per episode.
In response to the Canadian Idol deal, Frot-Coutaz said, “We are delighted to have strengthened our partnership with CTV through this extended production deal, ensuring Canadian Idol’s prominence for another five seasons. The programme’s ratings dominance is a testament to the high production values and commitment to excellence. We’ve no doubt it will enjoy continued success.”
Boyce added, “For CTV, Canadian and American Idol are much more than just complementary. In fact, the existence of one magnifies the other. We look forward to a renewed commitment with our partners at FremantleMedia.”
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.
