News Broadcasting
GoQuest Media inks deal with SBS to air spy thriller ‘Traitor’
Mumbai: Global independent content distributor GoQuest Media has signed a deal with Australian broadcaster SBS for the award-winning series Traitor, produced by multi-service provider Elisa Estonia and Estonian public broadcaster ERR.
With this deal, SBS has acquired the exclusive AVOD rights for the gripping thriller directed by Ergo Kuld and written by prize-winning playwright and screenwriter Martin Algus (best screenwriter award at Estonian Film and Television Awards 2019). The series stars Tambet Tuisk (The Little Comrade, O2, Zero Point, The Poll Diaries). The actor is also the Best Actor Award winner for Traitor at the Estonian Film and Television Awards 2020 (EFTA)
Inspired by recent spy scandals in Estonia, Traitor'(6 x 58’) is a captivating thriller that begins in 2004, just before Estonia joined NATO and became a top target for Russian intelligence. Greed and the need for recognition leads new recruit Alfred Vint (Tambet Tuisk) to cooperate with Russian intelligence, leading to a thrilling cat-and-mouse game with determined young Estonian counterintelligence officer Marko Arrak (Veiko Porkanen) as they navigate the challenges faced in their personal lives.
Commenting on the deal, GoQuest Media VP of sales and acquisition Jimmy George said, “Traitor makes an important statement on what it means to put oneself before the well-being of others. Alfred Vint needs money and recognition, and he gets both from the Russians. But somewhere, the thin line between ambition and greed disappears, and he finds himself in a situation he can’t walk away from. The story fits perfectly with the unique programming style of SBS. Rats, another series from our catalogue was introduced to Australian audiences by SBS last year, and we are excited to see how this thrilling espionage drama will be received.”
SBS On Demand & World Movies channel manager, Haidee Ireland said, “Estonia is emerging as a new territory in the premium drama space, and we are so excited to bring this thrilling Estonian series to Australian audiences as part of our offering of the world’s best dramas on SBS On Demand.”
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.
