News Broadcasting
India blamed for lack of good scripts with universal appeal
MUMBAI: Indian film industry has failed to utilise strategic opportunities with the film industries of other Asian countries. There is lack of scripts which would appeal to a larger audience, unnecessary sosha is made about the look and grandeur behind a film- without any thought process going that there is a market of Indian films in other Asian countries.
These words by Asian Movie works MD Scott Rosenberg at the Ficci Frames 2004 seminar on “Strategic Opportunities between the film industries of India and Asia” set the tone for further discussion which kept hinging on the fact that the fault lay within India itself.
The session had eminent personalities like Quixotic president Mark Byers, Technicolor MD Les Mckenzie, C P Packaging assistant VP Pongsak Kantiratanawong and Take Aim Productions cinematographer Frank Biffone.
The following were some of the views expressed by the panelists who advocated the need for better ties in the entertainment industry between India and other Asian countries:
– Nobody in other Asian countries seem to know how film business is conducted in India.
– The growing menace of piracy should be wiped out.
– Co-production between India and other Asian countries should be encouraged and Indian filmmakers should not impose the subjects on their partners; there should be a constant dialogue between the two parties on what and why they are making.
– Quality of films need to be aimed at the festival circuit; this would inspire other nations to come forward for tie-ups.
– Government should give concession to all the co-productions that materialise in this regard.
– There is no need to fear that the films be in English; films can always be dubbed, Indian stars have lots of international value.
– Merchandising of films should be looked into.
– Need for schools to teach script and screenplay writing in India; however there is no dearth of stories per se. As many the people in India, that many the stories.
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.
