News Broadcasting
IBC makes a ‘famous’ deal with A&E Networks in US & UK
CANNES: US independent distribution company International Broadcast Communications (IBC) has sold its “Famous” series to A&E Network’s Biography channel in the US and the UK. The announcement was made today at the Mip-TV 2004 market by IBC founder and president Jon Helmrich.
Helmrich also announced a firm production commitment for a second season of “Famous,” which features in-depth celebrity profiles that explores the careers of superstars in their own words and in the words of their collaborators. Popular Arts Entertainment will produce a second season of 26 half-hour episodes to feature such superstars as Halle Berry, Kurt Russell, Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins and Meg Ryan.
In the deal concluded at Mip-TV, A&E Network’s Biography Channel in the US and the UK have picked up both seasons of “Famous” or a total of 52 half-hour episodes. “Famous” is about the careers of numerous celebrities including Julia Roberts, Mel Gibson and Sandra Bullock and the choices made that influenced them.
“Famous” is produced by Popular Arts Entertainment, which continues to operate the only independent entertainment news and feature business in the television industry. It is also a part of the Entertainment News output, which was created 14 years ago as a division of Popular Arts.
Addressing business at this year’s Mip-TV, Helmrich says, “Channels are starting to buy programming again. It’s like everyone took off the last year, but now they are back and ready to fill their schedules with fresh programming. This has been a very good market for us.”
International Broadcast Communications, Inc. (IBC) was formed in January 2002 by former E! Entertainment executive Jon Helmrich as a company dedicated to global programming distribution and channel development. Representing the programming of Entertainment News Service (ENS), The Tennis Channel, CHUM Television International, KCW Productions, and others, IBC offers international broadcast, cable and satellite services the latest in Hollywood news, features, profiles, interviews and celebrity gossip.
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.
