News Broadcasting
Harris playout system helps put Fashion TV Arabia on air
MUMBAI: Harris has announced that Fashion TV Arabia, a subsidiary of Michel Adam’s Fashion TV in Paris, has taken delivery of a turnkey Harris play-out system as part of its recently launched channel dedicated to the Middle East region.
The sale, which was made by the certified Harris software developer in the region, MT2, includes two Nexio transmission servers, two Nexio storage arrays, Nexio applications for remote control and clip playout, an Inscriber RTX real-time, 2D/3D graphics platform and the award-winning Panacea routing switcher, as well as a wide range of timing, distribution and processing products.
MT2 head Naji Bouhabib says, “As a pioneer in interactive television, MT2 was invited by Fashion TV Arabia to provide a solution that would add value and help generate new revenue streams for the channel — which is one of the key reasons we chose the Nexio server system for this project. Nexio provides an Application Programming Interface (API) that enables applications partners to develop custom tools to further enhance the overall system’s utility beyond the capabilities of standard protocols. Using the NEXIO API, we will be able to build software solutions that enable interfacing between different platforms — basically, a library of functions for interactivity — which will help Fashion TV Arabia collate clip information, on-air logos, branding and instruction messages.”
Like its parent company, Fashion TV Arabia’s programming includes exclusive coverage of the glamorous world of fashion, including reports from fashion shows, profiles of established and up-and-coming modeling talent and fashion photographers and features on general entertainment trends.
Key to Fashion TV Arabia’s new play-out system is the Inscriber RTX graphics platform, which puts full creative control in the hands of broadcasters, allowing them to create a purely custom broadcast solution. The development tool enables users to create stunning graphics consisting of advanced design elements and data from multiple sources, using common programming fundamentals.
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.
