News Broadcasting
Hatim Tai to debut on Star Plus on 26 Dec
MUMBAI: Kuch Kar Dikhana Hai will make way for kids’ show Hatim Tai on Star Plus, beginning 26 December.
Ramanand Sagar’s Sagar Arts has created the weekly show, that will air on Fridays at 8 pm. Kuch Kar Dikhana Hai, the Optimystix show that gets hidden talent to flaunt itself during the programme. Hatim Tai, the immortal children’s classic, will combine adventure with feats, a bit of science and lots of bravery and valour. The show has been created with high production values, says Star India senior Vp, content and communication, Deepak Segal. While Shakti and Amrit Sagar, the next generation of the Sagars, are directing the show, Jyoti Sagar is handling the computer graphics, that are an essential element of the special effects of the programme.
Kuch Kar Dikhana Hai, which has completed its seasonal run, will however, return to the channel next year with fresh talent, says Segal.
Actor Raahil will play central character Hatim Tai, while the main villain Jaal is being portrayed by Nirmal Pandey and the behind-the-scenes villain Najumi is being essayed by Vijay Ganju. Jasmine provides the female lead in the show.
A bank of six episodes is being maintained by the production house.
Another show that will debut on Star Plus in January 2004 is Koi Jaane Naa. Also a weekly, Koi Jaane Naa is being produced by Anurradha Prasad- Rajeev Shukla’s BAG Films.
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.
