News Broadcasting
Jay Kushner is Viacom VP, general tax counsel
MUMBAI: Media conglomerate Viaocm has announced that Jay Kushner has been appointed VP and general tax counsel. The announcement was made by Viacom executive VP and CFO Michael J. Dolan. Kushner, who reports to Dolan, will be responsible for the worldwide tax affairs of Viacom and its subsidiaries.
Before joining Viacom Kushner was the Young & Rubicam executive VP and CFOBefore that, he served as Senior Vice President of Treasury and Tax at Y&R. In this position Kushner assisted Dolan and his executive team in the initial public offering and ultimate sale of the company. Prior to his time there, Mr. Kushner led the International Tax operations at PepsiCo and was an executive with Cooper & Lybrand.
Doland said, Having worked with Jay at both PepsiCo and Young & Rubicam, I know the impact of his extensive expertise in domestic and international tax matters will be felt immediately at Viacom. And, as we navigate the intricacies of creating two new businesses at Viacom, his leadership and past experience will be invaluable. Hes the perfect addition to our already best-in-class Tax team and a critical asset to Viacom as we move into our next phase.
Kushner said, I couldnt be more thrilled to join this exciting company at such an extraordinary time. I look forward to applying all the skills Ive developed over the last 24 years, and to helping Mike and his dedicated team through this history-making transition.
Kushners appointment follows the unexpected death of Jack Carpenter in March 2005. Carpenter had held the position of VP and General Tax Counsel since May 2000.
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.
