News Broadcasting
Gwyneth Williams is BBC World Service director of English networks, news
MUMBAI: Gwyneth Williams has been appointed director of BBC World Service’s English networks and news.
She will be responsible for all the BBC’s international radio programmes in English and for the nine streams that deliver that output to its 42 million listeners around the globe.
She is currently head of Radio Current Affairs and editor of the BBC Reith Lectures.
She has worked closely with Reith Lecturers such as Daniel Barenboim last year and the well-known development economist, Jeff Sachs, whose series, Bursting At The Seams, is currently being broadcast.
Her department produces BBC Radio programmes such as File On 4, Analysis, From Our Own Correspondent and In Business.
Gwyneth herself edits a number of special programmes and series for BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service.
She will join in June, taking over from Phil Harding who is retiring from the BBC after 38 years with the corporation.
BBC World Service director Nigel Chapman said: “Gwyneth brings a wealth of experience in radio journalism to this very important global role. She has the energy and credibility to head up our English language proposition, ensuring it makes maximum possible impact across all available platforms with original, creative programmes and news services always underpinned by the BBC’s core values of independence, trust and creativity.”
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.
