News Broadcasting
Infinitum ropes in Rajiv Lakshman as group head to beef up its creative IP playbook
MUMBAI: What happens when one of India’s most iconic TV creators gets behind the wheel of a fast-growing digital content rocket ship? Sparks fly, formats morph, and global audiences better buckle up. Infinitum Network Solutions, the Hyderabad-based content powerhouse, has appointed Rajiv Lakshman as group head, intellectual properties—and it’s clearly not playing small.
Lakshman, best known for co-creating reality TV staples like MTV Roadies and MTV Splitsvilla, brings more than 20 years of storytelling firepower to Infinitum. This hire isn’t just strategic—it’s symbolic. It signals the company’s serious pivot from a traditional multi-channel network to a global brand ambassador for Indian creativity.
“Rajiv’s exceptional track record in creating formats that resonate with Indian audiences across diverse cultural backgrounds perfectly complements our mission to help talented creators grow from non-metro, tier two, tier three cities, and bring their voice to a global stage,” said Infinitum Network Solutions founder Satyadev Chada Krishna.
Founded in 2017, Infinitum has already left its mark across 160+ countries, with over 400 projects under its belt and more than 300 brands served globally. Not too shabby for a homegrown outfit rooted in Hyderabad, now stepping into a global spotlight.
Lakshman, clearly revved up about the appointment, said, “Infinitum’s innovative approach to content creation and distribution represents the future of Indian digital media on the global stage. I’m excited to join an organisation that has achieved such impressive global reach while staying true to its Indian roots. Together, we’ll create compelling intellectual properties that showcase India’s cultural richness while transcending boundaries. By reaching out to creators from tier two and tier three cities, we aim to create opportunities for young talent across diverse languages and regions, empowering them to grow, build careers, and establish a launchpad for the next generation of content creators.”
This move couldn’t be better timed. As the company expands its original content slate across formats and platforms, Lakshman’s experience navigating the transition from linear TV to OTT fits like a glove. From children’s shows to thrillers and rom-coms, Infinitum’s evolving playbook is about to get a splash of Lakshman’s trademark edge.
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.
