News Broadcasting
IOC in $72mn deal with Korean broadcaster
MUMBAI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded the Olympic broadcast rights in Korea to SBS, the privately-owned terrestrial commercial broadcaster in South Korea. SBS will have all rights on any audiovisual medium in the territory.
The agreement, valued at $ 33 million for Vancouver 2010 and London 2012, and $ 39.5 million for the 2014 and 2016 Games, includes for the first time Olympic coverage in both North and South Korea. It also shows a significant increase of 109 per cent from the current broadcast rights agreement (2002–2008) with the Korean Pool which runs until the Olympic Games in Beijing.
In line with the IOC’s policy to ensure maximum coverage and exposure for the Olympic Games broadcast, the agreement ensures that 250 hours of the Olympic Games and 150 hours of the Olympic Winter Games are broadcast on Korean free-to-air channels, along with an “Olympic Games’ Daily Highlights” programme, which will be shown in prime time.
IOC president Jacques Rogge said, “This significant agreement is an excellent outcome for the IOC and for the people of Korea, who are avid Olympic Games fans. This deal ensures a broader reach and greater coverage with a dedicated and enthusiastic new broadcast partner. This deal will mark the end of our relationship with the Korea Pool. We look forward to their collaboration on the Beijing Games and thank them for their partnership in previous Games”.
IOC executive board member Richard Carrión, who led the TV rights negotiations in Korea, said, “Korea is arguably the world’s most advanced media market in terms of broadband penetration and early adoption of new technologies. This new contract with SBS will allow the deployment of a full spectrum of new media rights as well as extending the coverage of Olympic Games into North Korea. The financial aspects are also favourable for the Olympic Movement. We are very pleased with this outcome.”
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.
