News Broadcasting
Indian contingent chases animation
SAINT TROPEZ: A small Indian contingent consisting of Delhi French embassy representative Reghu Devraj, Delhi-based New Image Entertainment promoter HS Bedi, Mumbai-based CEO Star Entertainment Pvt Ltd promoters Jiten and Shabnam Hemdev, Indiantelevision.com promoter & CEO Anil Wanvari and The Economic Times Bangalore deputy resident editor Asha Rai marked their presence at Rendez-Vous 2002 organised by Television France International in Saint Tropez in south France (9-13 September).
The flavour of the market for the Indians was French animation. AB International, Teleimages International, Antefilms, Carrere group, Dargaud Marina, France Animation, M6, Marathon International, were among the programme sellers booths that the Indians frequented.
Hemdev believes that the TVFI market’s small size (vis-a-vis Mipcom and MipTV) is a positive for television buyers. “You can interact closely with the best of French programme makers, watch their shows at the screenings and then take a decision back in India.”
Says New Image Entertainment’s Bedi: “Some of the French animation products appear to be good for India. And some of the meetings I had appear to be promising. I have not bought any of the programmes as yet, but once the tapes come in and I take a look I will be in a position to take a decision.”
Hemdev believes that the TVFI market’s small size (vis-a-vis Mipcom and MipTV) is a positive for television buyers. “You can interact closely with the best of French programme makers, watch their shows at the screenings and then take a decision back in India.”
According to Wanvari, price is going to be key for French animation to work in India. “India is a complicated market and pricing licensing fees for programmes as per what European buyers are willing to pay is a sure route to disaster. French programmers have to understand this and partner with genuine Indian companies the promoters of which have a keen interest to develop the Indian market for them. A long term view on the market is needed,” he says.
If the French programme sellers understand this, we may well have many dubbed/subtitled French shows/movies debuting on television this year.
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.
