News Broadcasting
Hungama Mobile & TSeries release ‘Don’ music on itunes
MUMBAI: Hungama Mobile, a popular aggregator of Indian entertainment content and TSeries, have announced the availability of the music of Farhan Akhtar’s eagerly-awaited Don for purchase on the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com).
This is the first time in the history of Bollywood that the soundtrack of a movie is being made available online on the same day as the official launch of its music, and prior to public availability of its music on CD. The soundtrack of the film will be featured on the World Page on iTunes, informs an official release.
The music was released on 26 August at an event, wherein along with Shahrukh Khan, music director of the film, Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy were also present.
Hungama Mobile MD and CEO Neeraj Roy said, “This provides a great opportunity for Bollywood, as the worldwide popularity of iTunes means we can reach out to the growing Bollywood fan base online, wherever they are. We’re proud to have achieved a milestone by making the Don music available on iTunes.”
“We are continually working to forge strategic relationships with key digital entertainment players, such as iTunes, to extend Hungama Mobile’s presence in online entertainment globally,” added Hungama Mobile chief operating officer Saleem Mobhani.
The film is a remake of Amitabh Bachchan starrer Don, which had hit numbers to its credit like Khaike Paan Banaras Waala, because of which expectations are high from Sharukh Khan starrer Don.
“It’s another step forward in our endeavor to reach the Global consumer and offer them the best of Bollywood through our digital initiative which is the first from the Indian music industry,” said T-Series chairman and MD Bhushan Kumar.
“We are really excited to be working with Hungama Mobile to deliver exiting and original entertainment content and are working diligently to establish a more comprehensive distribution network in the mobile and digital space.”
Excel Entertainment producer Ritesh Sidhwani said, “We are excited to be working with Hungama Mobile to release the Music of Don for the First time on the Digital platform via the iTunes Music Store along with the audio release. We are looking forward to increasing the fan following of hindi films by reaching out to the main stream audience through iTunes and welcoming the new era of Digital consumption of content.”
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.
